Pushbroom microwave radiometer results from HAPEX-MOBILHY

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Remote Sensing of Environment; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-4257(93)90089-G· OSTI ID:5777684

Nichols, W E ^[1]; Cuenca, R H ^[2]; Schmugge, T J ^[3]; Wang, J R ^[4]

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1. Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
2. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States). Dept. of Bioresource Engineering
3. Dept. of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD (United States). Agricultural Research Service
4. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (United States)

The NASA C-130 remote sensing aircraft was in Toulouse, France from 25 May through 4 July 1986, for participation in the HAPEX-MOBILHY program. Spectral and radiometric data were collected by C-130-borne sensors in the visible, infrared, and microwave wavelengths. This data provided information on the spatial and temporal variations of surface parameters such as vegetation indices, surface temperature, and surface soil moisture. The Pushbroom Microwave Radiometer (PBMR) was used to collect passive microwave brightness temperature data. This four-beam sensor operates at the 21-cm wavelength, providing cross-track coverage approximately 1.2 times the aircraft altitude. Observed brightness temperatures for the period were high, ranging from above 230 K to about 290 K. Brightness temperature images appeared to correspond well to spatial and temporal soil moisture variation. When results from wetter soil conditions encountered in another experiment were included, the regression improved dramatically. Based on similar research with the PBMR and an understanding of the ground data collection program, this result was examined to produce recommendations for improvements to future passive microwave research and data collection programs. Examples of surface soil moisture maps generated with PBMR data are presented which appear to be representative of the actual soil moisture conditions.

• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5777684
• Journal Information: Remote Sensing of Environment; (United States), Vol. 46:2; ISSN 0034-4257
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FRANCE
CLIMATES
RADIOMETERS
PERFORMANCE
SOILS
MOISTURE
AIRCRAFT
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
REMOTE SENSING
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
EUROPE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
RADIATION DETECTORS
WESTERN EUROPE
540210* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)
540110