Retrieval of ocean surface parameters from the scanning multifrequency microwave radiometer (SMMR) on the Nimbus-7 satellite

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.1984.350605· OSTI ID:6747450

Wilheit, T T; Chang, E; Gatlin, J; Greaves, J; Han, D; Krupp, B M; Milman, A S

Sea-surface temperature retrievals have been tested on 2 months of Nimbus-7 scanning multichannel microwave radiometer data. Using the prelaunch versions of the instrument calibration and geophysical parameter retrieval algorithms the initial results were poor. Improved algorithms produced substantially better results. It appears that at least for the night-Southern Hemisphere portion of the Nimbus-7 orbit, a rms measurement accuracy of 1.45/sup 0/C has been achieved. Similar tests with wind speed retrievals yield an accuracy of 2.7 m/s rms with no substantial differences between day and night measurements but limited by availability of surface observations to the Northern Hemisphere. Moreover, it appears that the retrieved wind speed is more nearly related to the square of the wind observed at the surface than to the wind itself.

• Research Organization: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771
• OSTI ID: 6747450
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens.; (United States) Vol. 22:2; ISSN IGRSD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580500* -- Oceanography-- (1980-1989)
ACCURACY
ALGORITHMS
CALIBRATION
DIGITIZERS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MICROWAVE SPECTRA
NIMBUS SATELLITES
OCEANOGRAPHY
ORBITS
PULSE CIRCUITS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOMETERS
REMOTE SENSING
SATELLITES
SCANNING MEASURING PROJECTORS
SEAS
SIGNAL CONDITIONERS
SPECTRA
SURFACE WATERS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
VELOCITY
WIND