The Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU-A), a 15-channel microwave sounder designed primarily to obtain temperature profiles in the upper atmosphere (especially the stratosphere) and to provide a cloud-filtering capability for tropospheric temperature observations. The first AMSU was launched in May 1998 on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) NOAA 15 satellite. The EOS AMSU-A is part of a closely coupled triplet of instruments that include the AIRS and HSB.
["instrument characteristics"]
- Passive multi-channel microwave radiometer measuring atmospheric temperature.
- 15 channel microwave sounder with a frequency range of 15-90 GHz.
- Provides atmospheric temperature measurements from the surface up to 40 km.
- On board NOAA K/L/M as well as Aqua.
| Heritage |
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Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) |
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| Swath |
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1650 km |
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| Spatial Resolution |
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40 km horizontal at nadir |
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| Mass |
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100 kg |
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| Duty Cycle |
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100% |
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| Power |
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125 Watts |
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| Data Rate |
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3.2 kbps |
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| Thermal Control By |
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Heater, central thermal bus, radiator |
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| Thermal Operating Range |
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0 to 20° |
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| Field of View (FOV) |
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±49.5° |
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| Instrument Instantaneous FOV |
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3.3° |
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| Pointing Requirements (Platform + Instrument, 3σ) |
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| Control |
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720 arcsec |
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| Knowledge |
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360 arcsec |
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| Stability |
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360 arcsec/sec |
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| Jitter |
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360 arcsec/sec |
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| Physical Size |
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65.5 x 29.9 x 59.2 cm (A1)
54.6 x 64.9 x 69.7 cm (A2) |
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"AMSU Scans Western Europe"
On Aqua, AMSU is integrally coupled with the AIRS instrument. Since 1998, AMSU instruments have also flown on satellites of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This artist concept animation shows the AMSU instrument measuring air temperatures at five levels in the atmosphere, each level indicated by a separate color. | |
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