GEO sounding using microwave instruments

Sergey Krimchansky; Joel Susskind; Alexander Krimchansky; Donald Chu; Robert Lambeck; Martin A. Davis

doi:10.1117/12.565283

4 November 2004 GEO sounding using microwave instruments

Sergey Krimchansky, Joel Susskind, Alexander Krimchansky, Donald Chu, Robert Lambeck, Martin A. Davis

Proceedings Volume 5570, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites VIII; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.565283
Event: Remote Sensing, 2004, Maspalomas, Canary Islands, Spain

Abstract

There are several microwave instruments in low Earth orbit (LEO) that are used for atmospheric temperature and humidity sounding by themselves and in conjunction with companion IR sounders. These instruments have achieved a certain degree of maturity and are undergoing a redesign to minimize their size, mass, and power requirements from the previous generation instruments. An example of these instruments is the AMSU-A series, now flying on POES and Aqua spacecraft, with the IR sounders HIRS3 and AIRS respectively. These older microwave instruments are going to be replaced by the ATMS instruments that will fly on NPP and NPOESS satellites with the CrIS IR sounder. A number of enabling technologies acquired from the ATMS instrument hardware design and data processing are directly applicable to performing similar microwave sounding on a geostationary platform. Because these technologies are already in place, they are readily available for the development of a geostationary orbit (GEO) microwave instrument, thereby avoiding costly technology development and minimizing the risk of not achieving the scientific requirements. In fact, the MMIC microwave components that were developed by ATMS for size and volume reduction are directly applicable to a GEO microwave sounder. The benefits of microwave sounders are well known. They penetrate non-precipitating cloud cover and allow for accurate soundings obtained with a collocated high spectral resolution IR sounder in up to 80% cloud cover. The key advantages of a microwave instrument in GEO will be its ability to provide high temporal resolution and uniform spatial resolution, and it will expand the utility of a collocated advanced IR sounder to cases in which partial cloud cover exists. A footprint in the order of 100 km by 100 km resolution with hemispherical coverage within one hour can be easily achieved for sounding channels in the 50 to 57 GHz range. A GEO microwave sounder will also allow mesoscale sampling of select regions.

Citation Download Citation

Sergey Krimchansky, Joel Susskind, Alexander Krimchansky, Donald Chu, Robert Lambeck, and Martin A. Davis "GEO sounding using microwave instruments", Proc. SPIE 5570, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites VIII, (4 November 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.565283

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