End-to-end simulation of WCOM IMI sea surface salinity retrieval

Abstract

The Water Cycle Observation Mission (WCOM) is an Earth science mission focused on the observation of the water cycle global climate change intensity through three different payloads. WCOM's main payload is an interferometric microwave imager (IMI). IMI is a tri-frequency, one-dimensional aperture synthesis microwave radiometer operating at the L-, S-, and C-bands to perform measurements of soil moisture and ocean salinity. Focusing on sea surface salinity (SSS), an end-to-end simulator of WCOM/IMI has been realized and tested on climatological data. Results indicate a general agreement between original and retrieved SSS, with a single measurement root mean square error of 0.26 psu and with an orbital measurement of 0.17 psu in open sea. In accordance with previous studies, good results are obtained in open sea, while strong contamination is observed in coastal areas.