BackForwardInstrument:  MWTS-3 

Instrument details
Acronym MWTS-3
Full name Micro-Wave Temperature Sounder - 3
Purpose Temperature sounding in nearly-all-weather conditions
Short description
  • 17 frequencies, 17 channels [see detailed characteristics below]
  • Calibration monitoring here
Background

Evolution of MWTS-2 flown on FY-3 C/D. Channels 23.8, 31.4, 53.596 ± 0.115 and 53.948 ± 0.081 GHz added and lower NeDT for some channels.
Scanning Technique

Cross-track: 98 steps of 33 km s.s.p., swath 2700 km
Resolution 33 km at s.s.p.
Coverage / Cycle Near-global coverage twice/day
Mass Power Data Rate

 

Providing Agency CMA
Instrument Maturity Flown on operational programme
Utilization Period: 2021 to 2035
Last update: 2025-01-29
Detailed characteristics

Channel number

Central frequency (GHz)

Bandwidth (MHz)

Polarisation

NEΔT

1

23.8

270

QH

0.4 K

2

31.4

180

QH

0.45 K

3

50.30

180

QV

0.45 K

4

51.76

400

QV

0.3 K

5

52.8

400

QV

0.3 K

6

53.246 ± 0.08

2x140

QV

0.35 K

7

53.596 ± 0.115

2x170

QV

0.3 K

8

53.948 ± 0.081

2x142

QV

0.35 K

9

54.40

400

QV

0.3 K

10

54.94

400

QV

0.3 K

11

55.50

330

QV

0.3 K

12

57.290

330

QV

0.7 K

13

57.290 ± 0.217

2x78

QV

0.9 K

14

57.290 ± 0.322 ± 0.048

4x36

QV

0.9 K

15

57.290 ± 0.322 ± 0.022

4x16

QV

1.3 K

16

57.290 ± 0.322 ± 0.010

4x8

QV

1.6 K

17

57.290 ± 0.322 ± 0.0045

4x3

QV

2.8 K
Satellites this instrument is flying on

Note: a red tag indicates satellites no longer operational, a green tag indicates operational satellites, a blue tag indicates future satellites

Instrument classification
  • Earth observation instrument
  • Passive microwave radiometer
  • Cross-track, special or non-scanning microwave radiometer
WIGOS Subcomponents
  • Subcomponent 1
  • MW sounders [in SSO]
  • MW sounder [in SSO]
  • MW cross-track upper stratospheric and mesospheric sounders
  • MW cross-track upper stratospheric and mesospheric sounder
Mission objectives
Primary mission objectives
  • Atmospheric temperature
Evaluation of Measurements

The following list indicates which measurements can typically be retrieved from this category of instrument. To see a full Gap Analysis by Variable, click on the respective variable.

Note: table can be sorted by clicking on the column headers
Note: * Primary mission objective.
VariableRelevance for measuring this variableOperational limitationsExplanation
Atmospheric temperature*1 - primaryCoarse vertical resolution.Many MW channels in the 54 GHz band. Nearly all-weather sounding
Downward long-wave irradiance at Earth surface5 - marginalHighly indirect.MW channels in bands 54 GHz to account for downward cloud radiation
Freezing level height in clouds3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels in the 54 GHz band. Inference from the temperature profile
Melting layer depth in clouds3 - highNo specific limitation.MW channels in the 54 GHz band. Inference from the temperature profile
Precipitation intensity at surface (liquid or solid)5 - marginalNo specific limitation.MW channels in the 54 GHz band. Suitable for liquid precipitation over sea and land, Insensitive to surface emissivity
Integrated Water Vapour (IWV)3 - highOver sea only.MW channel(s) in the water vapour band around 23 GHz
Upward long-wave irradiance at Earth surface5 - marginalHighly indirect.MW channels is the 54 GHz band to infer the impact of clouds on the upward LW radiation