14
C.L. Gentemann et al.
Table 2.1 PMW radiometer mission characteristics
Satellite
Sensor
Launch
Failure
Frequency (GHz)
Coverage
Nimbus-5
ESMR
12/1972
5/1977
19.4
Global
Nimbus-7
SMMR
10/1978
8/1987
6.6, 10.7, 18.0, 21.0,
37.0
Global
SEASAT
SMMR
6/1978
10/1978
6.6, 10.7, 18.0, 21.0,
37.0
Global
DMSP F08
SSM/I
7/1987
12/1991
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F10
SSM/I
12/1990
11/1997
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F11
SSM/I
12/1991
5/2000
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F13
SSM/I
5/1995
11/2009
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F14
SSM/I
5/1997
8/2008
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F15
SSM/I
12/1999
Present
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
TRMM
TMI
12/1997
Present
10.7, 19.4, 21.3, 37.0,
85.5
40S-40N
ADEOS-II
AMSR
12/2002
10/2003
6.9, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8,
36.5, 89.0
Global
AQUA
AMSR-E
5/2002
Present
6.9, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8,
36.5, 89.0
Global
Coriolis
WindSat
6/2003
Present
6.8, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8,
37.0
Global
DMSP F16
SSMI/S
10/2003
Present
–
Global
DMSP F17
SSMI/S
11/2006
Present
–
Global
SMOS
MIRAS
11/2009
–
1.4
Global
DMSP F18
SSMI/S
10/2009
Present
–
Global
GPM
GMI
(7/2013)
–
10.7, 18.7, 23.8, 36.5,
89.0
65S-65N
SAC-D
Aquarius
(5/2010)
–
1.4
Global
GCOM-W
AMSR2
(2/2012)
–
6.9, 7.3, 10.7, 18.7,
23.8, 36.5, 89.0
Global
C2
MIS
(5/2016)
–
6.8, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8,
37.0, 89.0
Global
both the horizontal and vertical polarizations (Gloersen et al., 1984). SMMR geophysical retrievals were compromised by non-negligible switch leakages (Han and
Kim, 1988), rendering the SMMR measurements useful for detection of sea ice but
not accurate enough for geophysical retrievals.
The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite series launched
the first SSM/I on F-08 in June 1987. This was followed by SSM/Is on F-09 to F15. The DMSP satellites orbit the earth in 102 min, at approximately 833 km with
an inclination of 98.8 ◦ (Hollinger et al., 1990). The F-series alternate between early
and late morning Local Equator Crossing Times (LECTs). The SSM/I instrument
measures at 19.4, 22.2, 37.0, and 85.5 GHz. Both vertical and horizontal polarizations are measured for all channels except the 22.2 GHz which only measures the
vertical. SSM/I was the first satellite PMW radiometer to have external calibration accomplished by viewing a mirror that reflects cold space and a hot reference
absorber once each scan, every 1.9 s. The cold space is a known 2.7 K while the
C.L. Gentemann et al.
Table 2.1 PMW radiometer mission characteristics
Satellite
Sensor
Launch
Failure
Frequency (GHz)
Coverage
Nimbus-5
ESMR
12/1972
5/1977
19.4
Global
Nimbus-7
SMMR
10/1978
8/1987
6.6, 10.7, 18.0, 21.0,
37.0
Global
SEASAT
SMMR
6/1978
10/1978
6.6, 10.7, 18.0, 21.0,
37.0
Global
DMSP F08
SSM/I
7/1987
12/1991
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F10
SSM/I
12/1990
11/1997
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F11
SSM/I
12/1991
5/2000
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F13
SSM/I
5/1995
11/2009
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F14
SSM/I
5/1997
8/2008
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
DMSP F15
SSM/I
12/1999
Present
19.4, 22.2, 37.0, 85.5
Global
TRMM
TMI
12/1997
Present
10.7, 19.4, 21.3, 37.0,
85.5
40S-40N
ADEOS-II
AMSR
12/2002
10/2003
6.9, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8,
36.5, 89.0
Global
AQUA
AMSR-E
5/2002
Present
6.9, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8,
36.5, 89.0
Global
Coriolis
WindSat
6/2003
Present
6.8, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8,
37.0
Global
DMSP F16
SSMI/S
10/2003
Present
–
Global
DMSP F17
SSMI/S
11/2006
Present
–
Global
SMOS
MIRAS
11/2009
–
1.4
Global
DMSP F18
SSMI/S
10/2009
Present
–
Global
GPM
GMI
(7/2013)
–
10.7, 18.7, 23.8, 36.5,
89.0
65S-65N
SAC-D
Aquarius
(5/2010)
–
1.4
Global
GCOM-W
AMSR2
(2/2012)
–
6.9, 7.3, 10.7, 18.7,
23.8, 36.5, 89.0
Global
C2
MIS
(5/2016)
–
6.8, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8,
37.0, 89.0
Global
both the horizontal and vertical polarizations (Gloersen et al., 1984). SMMR geophysical retrievals were compromised by non-negligible switch leakages (Han and
Kim, 1988), rendering the SMMR measurements useful for detection of sea ice but
not accurate enough for geophysical retrievals.
The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite series launched
the first SSM/I on F-08 in June 1987. This was followed by SSM/Is on F-09 to F15. The DMSP satellites orbit the earth in 102 min, at approximately 833 km with
an inclination of 98.8 ◦ (Hollinger et al., 1990). The F-series alternate between early
and late morning Local Equator Crossing Times (LECTs). The SSM/I instrument
measures at 19.4, 22.2, 37.0, and 85.5 GHz. Both vertical and horizontal polarizations are measured for all channels except the 22.2 GHz which only measures the
vertical. SSM/I was the first satellite PMW radiometer to have external calibration accomplished by viewing a mirror that reflects cold space and a hot reference
absorber once each scan, every 1.9 s. The cold space is a known 2.7 K while the