Microwave Sensors, Imagers and Sounders

Abstract

Passive microwave sensors flown on low Earth orbiting satellites are the cornerstones to precipitation retrieval because of their strong connection to the physical processes related to rain and snow. They penetrate through cirrus clouds and respond to both liquid and frozen hydrometeors which are highly correlated to surface precipitation rates. Despite their rather coarse spatial resolution and less frequent temporal sampling as compared to geostationary based visible and infrared measurements, the evolution of the microwave sensors through both research and operational missions have led to their important role in global precipitation retrieval. This chapter summarizes the primary microwave sensors and their attributes for the past 40 years.