EO·Atlas
Multi-frequency microwave imaging radiometry
Retrieves sea surface temperature, sea ice concentration, snow water equivalent, soil moisture, and atmospheric water vapour from natural microwave emission measured across multiple frequencies (roughly 6 to 89 GHz) by a conically scanning imager. The workhorse for global ocean, cryosphere, and hydrological monitoring at a daily cadence.
A conically scanning radiometer measures brightness temperature at several frequencies between roughly 6 and 89 GHz, each in dual polarisation, and inverts the multi-frequency signal against emission models to separate surface and atmospheric contributions. The breadth of the frequency set is what distinguishes this imaging approach from single-band L-band radiometry: the higher channels resolve sea surface temperature, sea ice, snow water equivalent, and water vapour that a 1.4 GHz instrument cannot. Coarse spatial resolution (tens of km, strongly frequency-dependent) limits applicability over heterogeneous terrain. The method is cloud-independent and operates day and night. Wikipedia: Passive microwave remote sensing
Microwave SST and related ocean fields can support mixed-layer and surface heat-context products.
- Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) via Aqua
- Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) via GCOM-W1 (Shizuku)
- SSMIS
SSMIS includes 9 conical-scanning imaging channels (19.35-91.655 GHz) that continue the SSM/I multi-frequency microwave imaging heritage; surface and precipitation retrievals alongside the sounding channels.
- HY-2D Calibration Microwave Radiometer
via HY-2D
HY-2D carries an operational calibration microwave radiometer payload.
- Advanced Microwave Radiometer - Climate Quality
via Sentinel-6B
amr-c microwave radiometer channels support Sentinel-6B wet-tropospheric/atmospheric correction measurements.
- High Resolution Microwave Radiometer
via Sentinel-6B
hrmr microwave radiometer channels support Sentinel-6B wet-tropospheric/atmospheric correction measurements.
- MTVZA-GY Imaging/Sounding Microwave Radiometer
via Meteor-M N2-4
MTVZA-GY is an imaging/sounding passive microwave radiometer.
- WSF-M Microwave Imager (MWI)
via WSF-M1
WSF-M MWI is a passive microwave imager with multi-frequency polarimetric channels.
- SWOT Microwave Radiometer
via Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT)
SWOT microwave radiometer uses passive microwave channels for wet-tropospheric correction.
- Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 3 (AMSR3)
via GOSAT-GW (IBUKI GW)
AMSR3 is a passive microwave imaging radiometer with water-cycle observation products on GOSAT-GW.
- HY-2B Microwave Radiometer Imager
via HY-2B
HY-2B MWRI is a conical passive microwave radiometer imager with five microwave frequencies.
- Microwave Radiometer (MWR)
via Sentinel-3B
MWR demonstrates passive microwave radiometry for altimetry wet-tropospheric correction on Sentinel-3B.
- HY-2C Calibration Microwave Radiometer
via HY-2C
HY-2C CMR is a passive microwave radiometer payload.
- GPM Microwave Imager
via GPM Core Observatory
GMI is a multi-channel conical-scanning microwave radiometer with 10-183 GHz channels.
- HY-2B Calibration Microwave Radiometer
HY-2B CMR is a calibration microwave radiometer; kept as capable for passive microwave radiometry pending full instrument research.
Measures naturally emitted microwave radiation in the protected L-band near 1.4 GHz (about 21 cm wavelength), where the atmosphere is nearly transparent and the signal carries information from the top few centimetres of soil. The primary spaceborne source of global surface soil moisture and sea surface salinity.
Retrieval of atmospheric temperature and humidity vertical profiles from microwave emission in oxygen and water-vapour absorption bands (cross-track sounders).
- [1]Wikipedia: Passive microwave remote sensingcommunity2026-05-22
Edited from public sources. Last reviewed date pending by SpectraWorks editorial. See the data dictionary for field definitions.