Radiometric Target Signatures at Frequencies up to 150GHZ

Microwave Technology is now well extended into the millimetre wavelength band and is leading to the evolution of sub-systems such as various types of sensor and seeker. In turn, the effective design of these sub-systems is dependant upon a good data base. This is particularly true for radiometric sensors, which are only receiving block body radiation and which have to extract as much information as possible from this wideband noise. For example: simultaneous measurement of a scene at two or more frequency bands enables information to be deduced about the surface properties of the scene. Earth resource satellites could possibly use this to determine such factors as sea state, wind speed, surface layer thickness. This paper describes some experiments which have been carried out using radiometers operating at 33.5, 95 and 150GHz with land, sea and sky as the targets.