The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) is a twelve-channel, six-frequency, total power passive-microwave radiometer system. It measures brightness temperatures at 6.925, 10.65, 18.7, 23.8, 36.5, and 89.0 GHz. Vertically and horizontally polarized measurements are taken at all channels. The Earth-emitted microwave radiation is collected by an offset parabolic reflector 1.6 meters in diameter that scans across the Earth along an imaginary conical surface, maintaining a constant Earth incidence angle of 55° and providing a swath width array of six feedhorns which then carry the radiation to radiometers for measurement. Calibration is accomplished with observations of cosmic background radiation and an on-board warm target. Spatial resolution of the individual measurements varies from 5.4 km at 89.0 GHz to 56 km at 6.9 GHz.
- Passive microwave radiometer, twelve channels, six frequencies, dual polarization, conically scanning.
- Measures precipitation rate, cloud water, water vapor, sea surface winds, sea surface temperature, ice, snow, and soil moisture.
- All-weather measurements of geophysical parameters supporting several global change science and monitoring efforts.
- External cold load reflector and a warm load for calibration.
- Offset parabolic reflector, 1.6 m in diameter, and rotating drum at 40 rpm.
- Multiple feedhorns (6) to cover six bands from 6.9 to 89 GHz with 0.3 to 1.1 K radiometric sensitivity; vertical and horizontal polarization.
| Responsible Agency |
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National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) |
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| Heritage |
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Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) on board Nimbus 7 and Seasat, Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) on board the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) on board the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite II (ADEOS II) |
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| Accuracy |
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1 K or better |
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| Swath |
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1445 km |
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| Spatial Resolution |
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6 x 4 km (89.0 GHz), 14 x 8 km (36.5 GHz), 32 x 18 km (23.8 GHz), 27 x 16 km (18.7 GHz), 51 x 29 km (10.65 GHz), 75 x 43 km (6.925 GHz) |
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| Incidence Angle |
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55° |
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| Sampling Interval |
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10 km for 6-36 GHz channels, 5 km for the 89 GHz channel |
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| Mass |
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324±15 kg |
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| Duty Cycle |
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100% |
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| Power |
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350±35 Watts |
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| Data Rate |
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87.4 kbps avg, 125 kbps peak |
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| Thermal Control By |
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Passive radiator, thermostatically controlled heaters |
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| Thermal Operating Range |
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-5 to 40°C |
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| Pointing Requirements, design value (instrument only, 3σ) |
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| Accuracy |
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600 arcsec/axis for roll and pitch; NA for yaw |
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| Knowledge |
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300 arcsec/axis for roll and pitch; NA for yaw |
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| Stability |
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80 arcsec/sec/axis for roll and pitch; NA for yaw |
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| Physical Size |
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| Sensor Unit |
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139.7 x 77.5 x 76.2 cm (stowed), 139.7 x 151.2 x 76.2 cm (deployed) |
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| Control Unit |
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0.8 x 1.0 x 0.6 m |
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