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Instrument: PRM
Instrument details
Acronym
PRM
Full name
Precipitation Measurement Radar
Purpose
To provide continuity to the GPM Core Observatory. Precipitation Intensity and type will be retrieved.
Short description
Ku-band (13.35±0.01 GHz) and Ka-band (35.55±0.01 GHz ) Precipitation Radar. Polarisation HH for both bands.
Sensitivity 0.5mm/hr (Ku) and 0.2mm/hr (Ka).
Background
Scanning Technique
Resolution
Horizontal 5 km
Vertical 250 m
Coverage / Cycle
Across track scan +/- 20.3 deg
Mass
Power
Data Rate
Providing Agency
CMA
Instrument Maturity
Backed by strong heritage
Utilization Period:
≥2023-02 to ≥2027
Last update:
2022-02-22
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 Active and radio-occultation sensor Cloud and precipitation radar
WIGOS Subcomponents
Subcomponent 1 Precipitation radar and cloud radar
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives Cloud drop effective radius Cloud ice Cloud ice Total Column Cloud ice effective radius Cloud liquid water (CLW) Cloud liquid water (CLW) total column Freezing level height in clouds Melting layer depth in clouds Precipitation (liquid or solid) Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid)
Secondary mission objectives Accumulated precipitation (over 24 h) Show all Show fewer
Tentative 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
Variable Relevance for measuring this variable Operational limitations Explanation
Accumulated precipitation (over 24 h) 4 - fair Poor time sampling.. Time sampling to be interpolated by GEO. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar. Sensitive to both liquid and solid precipitation
Cloud drop effective radius 1 - primary No specific limitation. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar for large and small drops
Cloud ice 4 - fair No specific limitation. Ku- and Ka-band radar for large and small particles
Cloud ice Total Column 4 - fair No specific limitation. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar for large and small particles
Cloud ice effective radius 1 - primary No specific limitation. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar for large and small particles
Cloud liquid water (CLW) 1 - primary No specific limitation. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar for large and small drops
Cloud liquid water (CLW) total column 1 - primary No specific limitation. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar for large and small drops
Freezing level height in clouds 1 - primary No specific limitation. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar. Detected as "bright-band"
Melting layer depth in clouds 1 - primary No specific limitation. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar. Detected as "bright-band"
Precipitation (liquid or solid) 1 - primary No specific limitation. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar for medium and large drops and ice particles
Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid) 1 - primary No specific limitation. Ku-band (around 13 GHz) and Ka-band (around 35 GHz) radar. Sensitive to both heavy and light, liquid and solid precipitation