Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Polarimeter (MSRP)

Function

High-precision airborne (airplane or helicopter) measurements of radio thermal emission of the Earth’s surface in the 20 to 94 GHz range and for brightness temperature mapping.

Description

The radiometer-polarimeter MSRP design is based on the satellite radiometer MIVZA, modified to provide polarimetric measurements. Conical scanning will afford an opportunity to form the radio thermal images of an underlying surface, bearing the information on the sea-surface wind and direction, rainfall intensity, sea ice parameters, and oil pollution of the sea surface.

The instrument is currently in development.

Main characteristics

 

Frequency, GHz

 

20.0

35.0

94.0

Number of channels

4

4

2

Polarization

H, V,
±45°

H, V,
±45°

H, V

Temperature range, K

3–330

Sensitivity, K

0.10

0.20

0.15

Scanning

Conical rotation

Scanning period, s

2

Mass, kg

50

Power, W

80

Antenna type

Cassegrain

Aperture, mm

Æ360

 


Radiometer prototype


Contacts

Microwave Radiometry Laboratory
Alexey V. Kuzmin, Head of laboratory +7(495)333-43-02, Alexey.Kuzmin@asp.iki.rssi.ru
Michael N. Pospelov +7(495)333-50-78, Michael.Pospelov@iki.rssi.ru