The High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) aboard NASA’s Aura satellite was a scanning infrared limb-scanner radiometer designed to sound the upper troposphere, stratosphere, and mesosphere to determine temperature, concentrations of chemical components of the atmosphere and aerosols along with the locations of polar stratospheric clouds and cloud tops. Sensor science team objectives were to provide sounding observations with horizontal and vertical resolution superior to that previously obtained; to observe the lower stratosphere with improved sensitivity and accuracy; and to improve the understanding of atmospheric processes through data analysis, diagnostics, and use of two- and three-dimensional models. HIRDLS stopped collecting data on March 17, 2008.
