BackForwardInstrument:  MWS (GEO) 

Instrument details
Acronym MWS (GEO)
Full name Microwave Sounder for Geostationary Orbit.
Purpose A MW sounder for frequent temperature and humidity sounding from geostationary orbit. Also useful for large scale precipitation estimates.
Short description
  • A microwave sounder operating in the range 23-425 GHz with 135 channels in total. 
  • Bandwidth 3-2000 MHz
  • Sensitivity 0.5-1.5K. 
  • Accuracy <1.5K
Background

A new development by CAS and ESA.
Scanning Technique

Interferometric synthetic aperture imaging.
Resolution <50 km
Coverage / Cycle Chinese region quick scan option
Mass Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency CAS
Instrument Maturity Demonstration pending
Utilization Period: TBD
Last update: 2025-08-04
Detailed characteristics
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
  • Cross-track, special or non-scanning microwave radiometer
WIGOS Subcomponents
  • Subcomponent 3
  • Hyperspectral MW sensors
  • Hyperspectral MW radiometer
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Cloud liquid water (CLW) total column
  • Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)
  • Precipitation (liquid or solid)
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.