SSMIS Level IC Development
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Sensor Description:
The Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) is a conically scanning passive microwave radiometer with a 53.1 degree Earth incidence angle sensing upwelling microwave radiation at 24 channels covering a wide range of frequencies from 19 - 183 GHz. The Level 1C dataset contains only 11 of these channels, which are most relevant to sensing precipitation. Data is collected along an active scan of 144 degrees across track producing a swath width on the ground of 1707 km. The first of five sensors was launched on board DMSP F16 on October 18, 2003. The SSMIS is a joint US Air Force/Navy multi-channel passive microwave sensor that combines and extends the imaging and sounding capabilities of three seperate DMSP microwave sensors including the SSM/T, SSM/T2, and SSM/I. It was built by Northrup-Grumman Electronic Systems.
Table 1. SSMIS characteristics (Note: The channels in the Level 1C dataset are a subset of the full SSMIS channel complement) :
| Center Frequencies(GHz) | 19.35 | 22.235 | 37.0 | 91.665 | 150.0 | 183.31+/-1 | 183.31+/-3 | 183.31+/-7 |
| Polarization | V/H | V | V/H | V/H | H | H | H | H |
| Bandwidth (MHz) | 350 | 410 | 160 | 1410 | 1640 | 510 | 1020 | 1530 |
| Sensitivity (K) | 0.35 | 0.45 | 0.22 | 0.19 | 0.53 | 0.38 | 0.39 | 0.56 |
| IFOV (km x km) | 73x47 | 73x47 | 41x31 | 14x13 | 14x13 | 14x13 | 14x13 | 14x13 |
| Sampling Interval (km x km) | 45x74 | 45x74 | 28x45 | 13x16 | 13x16 | 13x16 | 13x16 | 13x16 |
Source Data:
The source for the Level 1C data is the Sensor Data Record (SDR) data produced by the Navy's Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC). The SDR data is archived and publicly available from NOAA's Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS).
Satellite Intercalibration
Information on the satellite intercalibration is dependent on the version. The table below provides links to the calibration information for the SSMIS Level 1C versions produced to date.
Additional Documentation/References:
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Related Links:
NOAA's Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS).