Accumulated precipitation | 5 - marginal | Poor time sampling.. Time sampling to be interpolated by GEO. | MW channels around 10, 19, 23 and 37 GHz |
Biomass | 3 - high | Index only.. Coarse spatial resolution. | Derived from differential effect of vegetation across MW frequencies around 7, 10 and 19 GHz |
Cloud liquid water (CLW) | 3 - high | No specific limitation. | MW channels around 37 GHz |
Cloud liquid water (CLW) total column | 3 - high | No specific limitation. | MW channels around 37 GHz |
Land surface temperature | 5 - marginal | Coarse spatial resolution. | MW channels around 7 and 10 GHz |
Long-wave Earth surface emissivity | 3 - high | Long time series needed. | MW channels around 7, 10, 19 and 37 GHz. Emissivity across this MW range inferred by statistical analysis |
Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid) | 5 - marginal | Inaccurate over land. | MW channels around 10, 19, 23, and 37 GHz; 10 GHz very important for heavy precipitation over the sea |
Sea surface temperature* | 3 - high | No specific limitation. | MW channels around 7 and 10 GHz |
Snow cover | 3 - high | Coarse spatial resolution. | MW channels around 19 and 37 GHz |
Snow status (wet/dry) | 2 - very high | Coarse spatial resolution. | MW channels around 19 and 37 GHz |
Snow water equivalent | 2 - very high | Coarse spatial resolution.. Ground stations network needed. | MW channels around 19 and 37 GHz |
Soil moisture (in the roots region) | 4 - fair | Coarse spatial resolution.. Affected by vegetation. | MW channels around 7 GHz. Assimilation process required |
Soil moisture at surface | 3 - high | Coarse spatial resolution.. Affected by vegetation. | MW channels around 7 and 10 GHz |
Integrated Water Vapour (IWV) | 3 - high | Over sea only. | MW channel(s) in the water vapour band around 23 GHz |
Wind speed (near surface)* | 2 - very high | Over sea only. | MW channels around 7, 10, 19 and 37 GHz |
Sea-ice cover* | 4 - fair | No specific limitation. | MW channels around 7, 10, 19 and 37 GHz |
Sea-ice type | 5 - marginal | No specific limitation. | MW channels around 7, 10, 19 and 37 GHz. Type interpreted as age/roughness |