BackForwardInstrument:  MWTS-3 

Instrument details
Acronym MWTS-3
Full name Micro-Wave Temperature Sounder - 3
Purpose Temperature sounding in nearly-all-weather conditions
Short description 17 frequencies, 17 channels [see detailed characteristics below]
Background Evolution of MWTS-2 flown on FY-3 C/D. Channels 23.8, 31.4, 53.596 ± 0.115 and 53.948 ± 0.081 GHz added
Scanning Technique Cross-track: 98 steps of 16 km s.s.p., swath 2700 km
Resolution 16 km at s.s.p.
Coverage / Cycle Near-global coverage twice/day
Mass Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency CMA
Instrument Maturity Flown on operational programme
Utilization Period: ≥2021 to ≥2026
Last update: 2020-08-19
Detailed characteristics

Central frequency (GHz)

Bandwidth (MHz)

Polarisation

NEΔT

23.8

270

V or H

..... K

31.4

180

V or H

….. K

50.30

180

V or H

1.2 K

51.76

400

V or H

0.75 K

52.8

400

V or H

0.75 K

53.596

400

V or H

0.75 K

53.596 ± 0.115

…..

V or H

..… K

53.948 ± 0.081

…..

V or H

..… K

54.40

400

V or H

0.75 K

54.94

400

V or H

0.75 K

55.50

330

V or H

0.75 K

57.290

330

V or H

0.75 K

57.290 ± 0.217

78

V or H

1.2 K

57.290 ± 0.322 ± 0.048

36

V or H

1.2 K

57.290 ± 0.322 ± 0.022

16

V or H

1.7 K

57.290 ± 0.322 ± 0.010

8

V or H

2.4 K

57.290 ± 0.322 ± 0.0045

3

V or H

3.6 K

Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Earth observation instrument
  • Passive microwave radiometer
  • Cross-track, special or non-scanning microwave radiometer
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Atmospheric temperature
Secondary mission objectives
  • Freezing level height in clouds
  • Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)
  • Melting layer depth in clouds
  • Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid)
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Tentative Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Atmospheric temperature1 - primaryCoarse vertical resolution.Many MW channels in the 54 GHz band. Nearly all-weather sounding
Downward long-wave irradiance at Earth surface5 - marginalHighly indirect.MW channels in bands 54 GHz to account for downward cloud radiation
Freezing level height in clouds3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels in the 54 GHz band. Inference from the temperature profile
Melting layer depth in clouds3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels in the 54 GHz band. Inference from the temperature profile
Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid)5 - marginalNo specific limitation.MW channels in the 54 GHz band. Suitable for liquid precipitation over sea and land, Insensitive to surface emissivity
Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)3 - highOver sea only.MW channel(s) in the water vapour band around 23 GHz
Upward long-wave irradiance at Earth surface5 - marginalHighly indirect.MW channels is the 54 GHz band to infer the impact of clouds on the upward LW radiation