Sensor · Spaceborne

SWOT Microwave Radiometer

Missions → Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) (Operational)

Passive microwave radiometer on SWOT used to measure wet-tropospheric path delay for altimetry correction.

Sensor

The SWOT Microwave Radiometer is a Jason-class advanced microwave radiometer on SWOT that measures 18.7, 23.8, and 34 GHz brightness temperatures.^[1] Its radiometer data support estimates of wet-troposphere content, atmospheric attenuation to backscatter, cloud liquid water, water-vapour content, and wind speed coincident with nadir-altimeter range measurements.^[1] The measurements are collected along two tracks approximately 30 km left and right of satellite nadir.^[1] The instrument performs passive microwave radiometry, demonstrated on SWOT.^[1]

Where this fits, supply chain

Compositional position

Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) ——— this payload

this ——— Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) (Operational) flies on

Methods this sensor implements

Demonstrated

Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometryvia Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT)
SWOT microwave radiometer uses passive microwave channels for wet-tropospheric correction.

Capable, undemonstrated

None on record.

Topics this relates to

Drought Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)well suited

Sea ice Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)well suited

Snow water equivalent Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)well suited

Soil moisture Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)well suited

Crop stress and yield Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)adequate

Irrigation monitoring Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)adequate

Ocean surface winds Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)adequate

Permafrost and ground ice Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)adequate

Sea surface temperature Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)adequate

Vector-borne disease risk Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)adequate

Air quality Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)marginal

Coastal water quality Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)marginal

Groundwater and terrestrial water storage Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)marginal

Inland water Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)marginal

Ocean heat content Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)marginal

Pasture and grazing Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry(demonstrated)marginal

Sources

[1]SWOT Level 2 Radiometer Brightness Temperatures and Troposphere GDRagency doc2026-06-16
[2]SWOT flight systems, NASA/JPLagency doc2026-06-16
[3]WMO OSCAR satellite record: SWOTagency doc2026-06-16

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/swot-microwave-radiometer Markdown twin → Field definitions →