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Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) calibration/validation
Abstract
Calibration of the Defense Meteorological Space Program's (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and construction of algorithms used to retrieve environmental parameters for the raw SSM/I measurements of brightness temperature, TA, are presented. Retrieval algorithm work includes validation and repair of the DMSP ocean surface wind speed algorithm which was developed at Environmental Research & Technology Inc. (ERT). The ERT algorithm is based on the "D-matrix" approach which seeks a linear relationship between measured SSM/I brightness temperatures and environmental parameters. D-matrix performance was validated by comparing algorithm derived wind speeds with near-simultaneous and co-located measurements made by off-shore ocean buoys maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A revised D-matrix algorithm satisfied the DMSP accuracy requirement of 2 m/s for wind speed predictions in the range of 3 m/s to 25 m/s. Explanation of the process by which the SSM/I is able to measure ocean-surface winds is given and is based on the theory of microwave radiative transfer. The explanation concludes with construction of a nonlinear, iterative algorithm which is able to retrieve ocean surface wind speed, integrated atmospheric water vapor and integrated cloud liquid water from the raw SSM/I data. Instrument calibration issues include brightness temperature accuracy and precision, antenna beamwidth measurements, antenna pattern correction, and geolocation of the SSM/I measurements.
Subject Area
Electrical engineering|Remote sensing
Recommended Citation
Goodberlet, Mark Alphonse, "Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) calibration/validation" (1990). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9022690.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9022690