BackForwardInstrument:  SHF 

Instrument details
Acronym SHF
Full name Passive MW Radiometer
Purpose Multi-purpose MW radiometry
Short description 4-frequency / 8-channel MW radiometer: 7.5 GHz, 19.4 GHz, 22.22 GHz and 37.5 GHz, all with dual polarisation
Background New development
Scanning Technique Conical scanning, swath 900 km
Resolution 20 km at 37.5 GHz, 100 km at 7.5 GHz
Coverage / Cycle Global in 1.5 days
Mass Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency Roscosmos
Instrument Maturity
Utilization Period: 1974 to 1976
Last update: 2013-02-14
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
  • Conical scanning microwave radiometer
WIGOS Subcomponents No WIGOS subcomponents have been defined.
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Sea surface temperature
  • Wind speed (near surface)
Secondary mission objectives
  • Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)
  • Land surface temperature
  • Snow cover
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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
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Accumulated precipitation (over 24 h)5 - marginalPoor time sampling.. Time sampling to be interpolated by GEO.MW channels around 19, 23 and 37 GHz
Cloud liquid water (CLW)3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels around 37 GHz
Cloud liquid water (CLW) total column3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels around 37 GHz
Land surface temperature5 - marginalCoarse spatial resolution.MW channels around 7 GHz
Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid)5 - marginalInaccurate over land.MW channels around 19, 23 and 37 GHz
Sea surface temperature4 - fairNo specific limitation.MW channels around 7 GHz
Snow cover3 - highCoarse spatial resolution.MW channels around 19 and 37 GHz
Snow status (wet/dry)2 - very highCoarse spatial resolution.MW channels around 19 and 37 GHz
Snow water equivalent2 - very highCoarse spatial resolution.. Ground stations network needed.MW channels around 19 and 37 GHz
Soil moisture (in the roots region)4 - fairCoarse spatial resolution.. Affected by vegetation.MW channels around 7 GHz. Assimilation process required
Soil moisture at surface3 - highCoarse spatial resolution.. Affected by vegetation.MW channels around 7 GHz
Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)3 - highOver sea only.MW channel(s) in the water vapour band around 23 GHz
Wind speed (near surface)3 - highOver sea only.MW channels around 7, 19 and 37 GHz