# ATMS
*sensor . products*

ATMS is a cross-track passive microwave sounder for atmospheric temperature and humidity profiling.

## Specifications
- **manufacturer**: northrop-grumman
- **deployment context**: orbital
- **sensor**: {"instrument_family":"radiometer","measurement_principle":"passive","frequency_bands_ghz":[23.8,50.3,183.31],"scan_type":"cross-track"}
- **entity type**: sensor
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-11
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: agency-sourced
- **provider**: northrop-grumman
- **attributes**: {"kind":"sensor","manufacturer":"northrop-grumman","description":"ATMS is a cross-track passive microwave sounder for atmospheric temperature and humidity profiling.","deployment_context":"orbital","sensor":"{\"instrument_family\":\"radiometer\",\"measurement_principle\":\"passive\",\"frequency_bands_ghz\":[23.8,50.3,183.31],\"scan_type\":\"cross-track\"}"}
- **technology**: microwave-radiometry

## Editorial
ATMS (Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder) is a cross-track passive microwave sounder that combines temperature-profiling and humidity-profiling functions in a single instrument. It operates 22 channels spanning 23.8 GHz to 183.31 GHz, covering oxygen absorption bands near 50-58 GHz for temperature profiling and water-vapour absorption bands near 183 GHz for humidity profiling.[^oscar-atms] The instrument succeeds the paired AMSU-A and AMSU-B instruments, consolidating their measurement capabilities on the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) platforms.[^nesdis-atms]

ATMS was built by Northrop Grumman and first flew on Suomi-NPP, launched in October 2011.[^northrop-atms][^oscar-atms] It subsequently flew on NOAA-20 (launched November 2017) and NOAA-21 (launched November 2022).[^noaa-star-atms] NOAA plans to fly ATMS on JPSS-3 and JPSS-4.[^nesdis-atms] The instrument provides radiance profiles used in operational numerical weather prediction for temperature and moisture retrievals from the surface to the mesosphere.[^nesdis-atms]

## Compositional position
- noaa-20 (missions) --[mission_payloads]--> ATMS
- noaa-21 (missions) --[mission_payloads]--> ATMS
- suomi-npp (missions) --[mission_payloads]--> ATMS

## Sources
- [oscar-atms] | WMO OSCAR - Details for Instrument ATMS | https://space.oscar.wmo.int/instruments/view/atms | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-11
- [northrop-atms] | Northrop Grumman - Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder | https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/advanced-technology-microwave-sounder/ | tier=operator-engineering | accessed=2026-06-11
- [nesdis-atms] | NOAA NESDIS - Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) | https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/our-satellites/currently-flying/joint-polar-satellite-system/advanced-technology-microwave-sounder-atms | tier=operator-marketing | accessed=2026-06-11
- [noaa-star-atms] | NOAA STAR JPSS - ATMS Instrument | https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss/ATMS.php | tier=operator-engineering | accessed=2026-06-11

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/atms
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)