Snow water equivalent by MW radiometry

Product SN-SWE-HH (Snow water equivalent by MW radiometry) is based on the SSMIS instrument onboard the DMSP series satellites. In case of failure of SSMIS, data from AMSR-2 onboard the GCOM-W1 or MWRI aboard FengYun-3 series satellites can be utilized. In addition, the SN-SWE-HH product is ready to utilize MWI instrument data on board MetOp-SG B and AMSR-3 onboard GOSAT-GW once those satellites are launched.

The SN-SWE-HH product is the result of an assimilation process for the non-mountainous areas. Data assimilated are 19V, 37V brightness temperature and station snow depth and density. The ground network of synoptic stations observing snow depth provides a first guess field that is converted into MW brightness temperatures by an emission model that also accounts for forests. The assimilation process forces the first guess field to optimally match the SSMIS brightness temperatures.

Mission Multi-purpose MW imager with temperature/humidity sounding channels for improved precipitation

Instrument type 21-frequency, 24-channel MW radiometer

Scanning technique Conical: 53.1° zenith angle, swath 1700 km – Scan rate: 31.9 scan/min = 12.5 km/scan

Coverage/cycle Global coverage once/day / per satellite

Resolution (s.s.p.) Changing with frequency, consistent with an antenna diameter of 61 x 66 cm