UMASS SIMULTANEOUS FREQUENCY MICROWAVE RADIOMETER (USFMR) INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION, CURRENT AND FUTURE WORK

J. Vilardell Sanchez, J. Sapp, Z. Jelenak, P. S. Chang, S. J. Frasier

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) is a key instrument in tropical cyclones and high-latitude winter storms research. Through the observed brightness temperature (Tb) over a range of C-band frequencies, the SFMR derives wind-speed and rain rate. However, the instrument requires 5 to 10 seconds of averaging to cycle through all the frequencies, so regions of strong wind gradients and/or narrow rain features may be overlooked. The University of Massachusetts Amherst Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MIRSL) developed a specialized version of the SFMR, the UMass Simultaneous Frequency Microwave Radiometer (USFMR) that operates six frequency channels simultaneously, eliminating the averaging time. In collaboration with NOAA/NESDIS/STAR we plan to use this instrument in studies of high latitude winter storms. We describe the instrument hardware, recent comparisons with operational SFMR measurements during hurricane flight in 2019, and current and planned investigation of retrieval inconsistencies in non-tropical cyclone environments.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIGARSS 2021 - 2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Proceedings
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages7600-7603
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781665403696
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Event2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2021 - Brussels, Belgium
Duration: Jul 12 2021Jul 16 2021

Publication series

NameInternational Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS)
Volume2021-July

Conference

Conference2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, IGARSS 2021
Country/TerritoryBelgium
CityBrussels
Period07/12/2107/16/21

Keywords

  • Brightness temperature
  • Microwave radiometer
  • Ocean winds

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