---
title: "Ozone monitoring instrument"
chunk: 1/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_monitoring_instrument"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T03:41:50.471413+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

The ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) is a nadir-viewing visual and ultraviolet spectrometer aboard the NASA Aura spacecraft, which is part of the satellite constellation A-Train. In this group of satellites Aura flies in formation  about 15 minutes behind Aqua satellite, both of which orbit the Earth in a polar Sun-synchronous pattern, and which provides nearly global coverage in one day. Aura satellite was launched on July 15, 2004, and OMI has collected data since August 9, 2004.
From a technical point of view, OMI instrument use hyperspectral imaging to observe solar-backscatter radiation to the space with an spectral range that covers the visible and ultraviolet. Its spectral capabilities were designed to achieve specific requirements of total ozone amounts retrievals in terms of accuracy and precision. Also its characteristics provide accurate radiometric and wavelength self calibration over the long-term project requirements.

== OMI project ==
The OMI project is a cooperation between the Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programmes (NIVR), the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) and the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA).
The OMI project was carried out under the direction of the NIVR and financed by the Dutch Ministries of Economic Affairs, Transport and Public Works and the Ministry of Education and Science. The instrument was built by Dutch Space in co-operation with Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research Science and Industry and Netherlands Institute for Space Research. The Finnish industry supplied the electronics. The scientific part of the OMI project is managed by KNMI (principal investigator Prof. Dr. P. F. Levelt now at the Delft University of Technology), in close co-operation with NASA and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

== Scientific objectives and atmospheric monitoring ==
One of the scientific objectives of OMI is to measure trace gases: ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2),  sulfur dioxide (SO2), formaldehyde (HCHO), BrO, and OClO. However, OMI sensors can distinguish between aerosol types, such as smoke, dust, and sulfates, and can measure cloud pressure and cloud coverage, which provide data to derive tropospheric ozone. In that regard OMI follows in the heritage of TOMS, SBUV, GOME, SCIAMACHY, and GOMOS.  On top of that, OMI aims to detect emissions in volcanic eruptions with up to at least 100 times more sensitivity than TOMS. The Ozone Monitoring Instrument has been proved an useful platform to monitor other traces gases like Glyoxal, variables like surface UV radiation, or total column estimations like the water vapor, NO2 and Ozone. Has been uses in operational services by European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for ozone and air quality forecasts, and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAACs) for the rerouting of aircraft in case of a volcanic eruption.

== Instrument Information ==
The instrument observes Earth's backscattered radiation and uses two imaging grating spectrometers, and each grating spectrometer is coupled to a CCD detector with 780x576 (spectral x spatial) pixels. The instrument can operate in two different modes: the normal operational mode where a single pixel in the observation has an spatial resolution 13x24 km2 at nadir (straight down), and the zoom mode where this resolution is increased to 13x12 km2.

=== Spectral Information ===

OMI measurements cover a spectral region of 264–504 nm (nanometers) with a spectral resolution between 0.42 nm and 0.63 nm and a nominal ground footprint of 13 × 24 km2 at nadir. This spectral coverage is divided in three different channels two of them in the ultraviolet range, and one in the visible spectrum. Note that the ground pixel size of the UV-1 channel is twice as large in the swath direction compared to the other two channels, this optical design of the UV channel were done to reduce straylight in this wavelength range.

=== Orbital Information ===
The Aura satellite orbits at an altitude of 705 km in a sun-synchronous polar orbit with an exact 16-day repeat cycle and with a local equator crossing time of 13. 45 ( 1:45 P.M.)  on  the ascending node. The orbital inclination is  98.1 degrees, providing latitudinal coverage from 82° N to 82° S. It is a wide-field-imaging spectrometer with a 114° across-track viewing angle range that provides a 2600 km wide swath, enabling measurements with a daily global coverage.

=== Calibration and Validation ===
The discussion of the calibration and validation processes began before the launch of Aura Satellite. Once the instrument was in orbit the information of these calibration was published, showing specific details of the absolute radiometric calibration, the bi-directional scattering distribution function (BSDF) calibration and the spectral calibration carried on. Note also that the instrument is equipped with an internal white light source for detector calibration purposes. The validation, which aim to assess the inherent uncertainties in satellite data products of the instrument together with retrieval algorithms used for each data product, was carried on continuously since the launch of Aura satellite. The validation include products like: total ozone column, NO2, ozone vertical profiles.

=== In-flight performance ===
One important aspect of satellite instruments for scientific measurements is the evolution of the performance during the life-cycle of the sensors, as well as, the continuous evaluation of the quality of the data products. In the case of an instrument like OMI the main aspects to consider are: the radiometric and spectral stability, the row anomaly, and detector degradation. In the first aspect: the radiometric degradation of OMI ranges from ~2% in the UV channels to ~0.5% in the VIS channel, which is much lower than any other similar satellite instrument. Regarding the wavelength calibration of the instrument it remains stable to 0.005–0.020 nm which indicates a high wavelength stability. It was detected a row anomaly due, probably, to a partial cover of the instrument, warning flags were included in the raw products to avoid the use of these specific rows and keep the quality of the retrieval products. Further information of the long-term calibration indicated in 2017 that the instrument will be able to provide useful science data for another 5 to 10 years.