BackForwardInstrument:  MWRI-RM 

Instrument details
Acronym MWRI-RM
Full name Micro-Wave Radiation Imager for the Rainfall Mission
Purpose Multi-purpose imagery with emphasis on precipitation
Short description 17 frequencies, 26 channels, including bands 54, 118 and 183 GHz for temperature and humidity [see detailed characteristics below]
Background Improved version of the MWRI radiometer flown on the FY-3 satellites in sunsynchronous orbits
Scanning Technique Conical: 53.1° zenith angle, swath 800 km
Resolution Changing with frequency, consistent with an antenna diameter of 180 cm
Coverage / Cycle Limited coverage once/day consistent with the 50° orbital inclination
Mass Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency CMA
Instrument Maturity Flown on operational programme
Utilization Period: 2023 to 2032
Last update: 2024-02-05
Detailed characteristics

Central frequency

Bandwidth

Polarization

NEΔT

IFOV

10.65 GHz

180 MHz

V,H

0.5 K

21×35 km

18.7 GHz

200 MHz

V,H

0.5 K

14×23 km

23.8 GHz

400 MHz

V,H

0.5 K

13×21 km

36.5 GHz

900 MHz

V,H

0.5 K

9×15 km

50.30 GHz

400 MHz

V,H

0.5 K

7×11 km

52.61 GHz

400 MHz

V,H

0.5 K

7×11 km

53.24 GHz

400 MHz

V,H

0.5 K

7×11 km

53.75 GHz

400 MHz

V,H

0.5 K

7×11 km

89.0 GHz

3000 MHz

V,H

0.5 K

5×8 km

118.7503±3.2 GHz

2x500 MHz

V

0.8 K

4×7 km

118.7503±2.1 GHz

2x400 MHz

V

0.8 K

4×7 km

118.7503±1.4 GHz

2x400 MHz

V

0.8 K

4×7 km

118.7503±1.2 GHz

2x400 MHz

V

0.8 K

4×7 km

165.5±0.75 GHz

2x1350 MHz

V

0.8 K

4×6 km

183.31±2.0 GHz

2x1500 MHz

V

0.8 K

4×7 km

183.31±3.4 GHz

2x1500 MHz

V

0.8 K

4×7 km

183.31±7.0 GHz

2x2000 MHz

V

0.8 K

4×7 km

Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Earth observation instrument
  • Passive microwave radiometer
  • Conical scanning microwave radiometer
WIGOS Subcomponents
  • Subcomponent 1
  • MW sounder and imagery in inclined orbits
  • MW sounder and imager in inclined orbits
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Cloud liquid water (CLW) total column
  • Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)
  • Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid)
  • Sea surface temperature
  • Snow cover
  • Snow water equivalent
  • Soil moisture at surface
  • Wind speed (near surface)
Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Note: * Primary mission objective.
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Accumulated precipitation (over 24 h)3 - highPoor time sampling.. Time sampling to be interpolated by GEO.MW channels around 19, 23, 37 and 90 GHz, and in bands 54, 118 and 183 GHz
Atmospheric temperature3 - highCoarse vertical resolution.54 and 118 GHz bands. Nearly all-weather sounding
Cloud drop effective radius5 - marginalHighly indirect.MW channels around 37 and 90 GHz, and in bands 54 and 183 GHz
Cloud ice3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels around 37 and 90 GHz, and in bands 54, 118 and 183 GHz
Cloud ice Total Column3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels around 37 and 90 GHz, and in bands 54, 118 and 183 GHz
Cloud ice effective radius2 - very highNo specific limitation.MW channels around 37 and 90 GHz, and in bands 54, 118 and 183 GHz
Cloud liquid water (CLW)2 - very highNo specific limitation.MW channels around 37 and 90 GHz, and in bands 54, 118 and 183 GHz
Cloud liquid water (CLW) total column*2 - very highNo specific limitation.MW channels around 37 and 90 GHz, and in bands 54, 118 and 183 GHz
Downward long-wave irradiance at Earth surface5 - marginalHighly indirect.MW channels in bands 54, 118 and 183 GHz to account for downward cloud radiation
Freezing level height in clouds3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels in the 54 and 118 GHz bands. Inference from the temperature profile
Long-wave Earth surface emissivity5 - marginalLong time series needed.MW channels around 19, 37 and 90 GHz. Emissivity across this MW range inferred by statistical analysis
Melting layer depth in clouds3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels in the 54 and 118 GHz bands. Inference from the temperature profile
Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid)*3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels around 19, 23, 37 and 90 GHz; and in bands 54, 118 and 183 GHz, insensitive to surface emissivity and providing information on atmospheric structure
Snow cover*3 - highCoarse spatial resolution.MW channels around 19, 37 and 90 GHz. Higher frequencies less sensitive to emissivity from ground under snow
Snow status (wet/dry)2 - very highCoarse spatial resolution.MW channels around 19, 37 and 90 GHz. Higher frequencies less sensitive to emissivity from ground under snow
Snow water equivalent*2 - very highCoarse spatial resolution.. Ground stations network needed.MW channels around 19, 37 and 90 GHz. Higher frequencies less sensitive to emissivity from ground under snow
Specific humidity2 - very highCoarse vertical resolution.MW channels in the 183 GHz band, and 54 GHz for temperature and liquid water corrections
Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)*1 - primaryNo specific limitation.MW channel(s) in the water vapour bands around 23 and 183 GHz
Wind speed (near surface)*4 - fairOver sea only.MW channels around 19 and 37 GHz
Upward long-wave irradiance at Earth surface5 - marginalHighly indirect.MW channels is the 54, 118 and 183 GHz bands to infer the impact of clouds on the upward LW radiation