| Instrument: SSMIS : Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder |
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Associated Platforms DMSP 5D-3/F18 DMSP 5D-3/F17 DMSP 5D-3/F16 Spectral/Frequency Information Wavelength Keyword: MICROWAVE Number Channels: 24 Spectral/Frequency Coverage/Range: Center Frequency 19.35 GHz to 183.31 GHz Related Data Sets View all records related to this instrument Description The Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) continues the legacy of passive microwave instruments carried aboard Defense Meteorological Satellite [Text Source: National Snow and Ice Data Center, http://nsidc.org/data/docs/daac/ssmis_instrument/index.html ] Program (DMSP) satellites. Beginning with the launch of the DMSP F-16 satellite on 18 October 2003, the SSMIS marks the commencement of a new series of passive microwave conically scanning imagers and sounders planned for launch over the next two decades (Sun and Weng 2008). SSMIS improves upon the surface and atmospheric retrievals of the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I), and upon the atmospheric temperature and water vapor sounding capabilities of both the Special Sensor Microwave Temperature Sounder (SSM/T-1) and the Special Sensor Microwave Humidity Sounder (SSM/T-2). Furthermore, the SSMIS imaging and sounding sensors share the same viewing geometry, thereby allowing surface parameters to be retrieved simultaneously (Yan and Weng 2008). The SSMIS instrument is able to estimate atmospheric temperature, moisture, and surface parameters from data collected at frequencies ranging from 19 to 183 GHz over a swath width of 1707 km. SSMIS is currently carried aboard DMSP-F16, -F17, and -F18 satellites, and is slated for furture missions aboard DMSP-F19 and -F20. This document discusses the mission objectives, principles of operation, sensor specifications, and calibration information of the SSMIS instrument. Online Resources http://nsidc.org/data/docs/daac/ssmis_instrument/index.html http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/rsad/ssmi/swath/index.html Instrument Logistics Instrument Owner: USA/DOD USA/NOAA USA/NASA |
