Analysis of the WindSat Receiver Frequency Passbands
Abstract
The WindSat instrument is the primary payload for the Coriolis mission which was launched on 6 January 2003. WindSat is a 22-channel conical-scanning radiometer which measures the vertical and horizontal polarizations at nominal center frequencies of 6.8 and 23.8 GHz and six polarizations at nominal center frequencies of 10.7, 18.7, and 37 GHz. The prelaunch WindSat receiver frequency passband measurements are presented and modeled with a functional fit. Radiative transfer simulations are presented which model the differences between the measured brightness temperatures for ocean scenes and the simulated brightness temperatures for the nominal design receiver frequency passbands. Significant differences are shown for the channels with 18.7 and 23.8 GHz nominal center frequencies. These differences are shown to be a function of the precipitable water vapor in the measured scene.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 12, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA610946
Entities
People
- Michael H. Bettenhausen
- Peter W. Gaiser
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory