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Microwave Instruments

Characteristics

Click on the links in the Name column to see more information about that instrument.
Name Orbit Scan geometry Agency / Producer Channel frequencies Antenna Diameter Primary Aim FOV freq. range Sampling density Power Mass Platform Launch Date Data rate
AMSU-A 830-870 Cross track NOAA / Aerojet 23.8, 31.4, 50.3, 52.8, 53.6, 54.4, 54.9, 55.5, 57.3 (6 chs), 89.0 0.2 T(z) 40 ´40 km 1.5 101 W 91 kg NOAA K, L, M Aqua and METOP May 1998 2 kbps
AMSU-B 830-870 Cross track NOAA / Matra Marconi 89.0, 150.0, 183.3 (3 chs) 0.2 q(z) 16 ´16 km 9.8 90 W 60 kg  NOAA K, L, M May 1998 60 kbps
AMSR-E 705 Conical NASDA / Mitsubishi 6.925, 10.65, 18.7, 23.8, 36.5, 89.0 (all V&H pol) 1.6 Precipitation, CLW, TPW. Also SSWS, SST 43´75 km
3.5´5.9 km
L:0.8
H: 120
<465 W 314 kg  Aqua May 2002 < 125 kbps
HSB 705 Cross track NASA & AEB / INPE 150.0, 183.3 (3 chs) 0.2 q(z) 13.5´13.5 km 13.7 56 W 51 kg Aqua May 2002 4.2 kbps
AMSR 803 Conical NASDA / Mitsubishi 6.92, 10.65, 18.7, 23.8, 36.5, 89.0 (all V&H pol) 50.3 and 52.8 (V only) 2.0 Precipitation, CLW, TPW. Also SSWS, SST 40´70 km
3´6 km
L: 0.9
H: 138.9
400 W 340 kg ADEOS II Dec. 2002 130 kbps
WINDSAT 830 Conical US Navy & NPOESS / NRL 6.8, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8, 37.0 (10.7, 18.7 and 37 polarimetric) 1.83 SSWS and SSWD 40´70 km
6´12 km
L:0.9
H:35
32 W 30 kg DoD Coriolis  Jan. 2003 174 kbps
SSMIS 830 Conical US DoD / Aerojet 19.35 (V&H), 22.24 (V), 37.0 (V&H), 50.3-59.4 (H), 91.66 (V), 150.0 (H), 183.31 (H) 0.6 T(z), q(z), SSWS, TPW, CLW 46´74 km
13´16 km
L: 0.7
H: 12.0
135 W 96 kg DMSP F-16, F-17 May 2003 14.2 kbps
MHS 830-870 Cross track EUMETSAT 89.0, 157.0, 183.3 (2 chs), 190.0 0.2 q(z) 16´16 km 10 95 W 65 kg NOAA-N, -N´ and METOP-1, -2, -3 2003 N/A
ATMS 824 Cross track NPOESS / BAE systems & Aerojet 23.8, 31.4, 50.3, 57.3, 87.0, 91.9, 164, 167, 183 (5 chs) 0.6 T(z), q(z) 70´70 km
15.8´15.8 km
L:0.3
H:10.0
98 W 73 kg NPP and NPOESS 2005 50 kbps
CMIS 833 Conical NPOESS / Boeing Satellite Systems 10.65, 18.7, 36.5 (polarimetric), 50.3, 59.9 (9 chs), 60.4 (5 chs), 89, 166, 183 (3 chs) 2.2 T(z), q(z), SSWS, SSWD, soil moisture 40´40 km
1.6´1.6 km
L: 1.6
H:976
340 W 257 kg NPOESS 2009 280 kbps
SAPHIR 867 Cross track CNES 183 (H) (*6) 0.2m q (z) 11.3´13.3 km 17 30 W 18 kg Mega-Tropiques 2006 N/A
MADRAS 867 conical CNES & ISRO / Astrium 19 (V&H), 23 (V), 37 (V&H), 85 (V&H), 150 (V&H) N/A Precipitation and q(z) 56km´56km
7.3´7.3km
L: 0.8
H: 47
N/A N/A Mega-Tropiques 2006 N/A
Aquarius N/A Off-nadir at 23.3°, 33.7°, 41.7° incidence NASA 1.4 4 SSS <100´100km >0.25 291 W 247 kg NASA Pathfinder 2007 5 kbps
SMOS 757 Cross track ESA 1.4 4.5 Soil Moisture & SSS <50´50km <1.0 N/A <175 kg ESA Earth Explorer 2007 N/A
EGPM 635 conical ESA 18.7, 23.8, 36.5, 69.0, 157.0 (all V&H except 23.8(V)) & optionally: 10.7, 50.0 - 55.0 (4 chs), 118.75 (4 chs) 1.2m Precipitation 26´26km
5.5´5.5km
L: 4
H:83
55 W 56 kg ESA Earth Explorer 2007 64 kbps
GMI 400 Conical NASA 10.65, 18.7, 21.3, 37.0, 89.0 (all V&H) 183 TBD N/A Precipitation N/A N/A 101 W 88 kg NASA GPM 2008 15 kbps


Last updated 27 April 2005