Measurements of the AMSU-B antenna pattern

Author

Hewison, Timothy J. ; Saunders, Roger

Author_Institution

Remote Sensing Instrum., UK Meteorol. Office, Farnborough, UK

Volume

34

Issue

2

fYear

1996

fDate

3/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

405

Lastpage

412

Abstract

Measurements of the antenna patterns for the high frequency component of the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU-B), to fly on the NOAA-KLM polar orbiting satellites, are reported. They were made on the Compact Antenna Test Range at Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, at three frequencies within the AMSU-B receiver´s channels, centered at 89, 150, and 183.31 GHz. The main reflector of AMSU-B´s antenna is an offset parabola with a 219-mm diameter aperture. This paper describes the measurements that were made and presents the results of an analysis of them for the three AMSU-B flight models. Measurements of beamwidths, main beam efficiencies, and sensitivity to cross-polarization are all reported. These data are then used to compute simulated antenna temperatures for the space and Earth views and recommendations for correcting the space view and Earth view data due to antenna effects are proposed. The implications for the operational radiometric calibration of AMSU-B are also discussed

Keywords

antenna radiation patterns; artificial satellites; atmospheric measuring apparatus; meteorological instruments; millimetre wave antennas; millimetre wave measurement; radiometers; radiometry; reflector antennas; remote sensing; satellite antennas; 89 to 184 GHz; AMSU; AMSU-B; Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit; EHF; NOAA-KLM polar orbiting satellite; atmosphere; beamwidth; humidity; main beam efficiency; measurement; meteorology; millimetric radiometry; mm wave; offset parabola; polarimetry; polarization; precipitation; radiation pattern; radiometer antenna pattern; radiometric calibration; satellite remote sensing; sensitivity; Antenna accessories; Antenna measurements; Earth; Extraterrestrial measurements; Frequency measurement; Microwave antennas; Microwave measurements; Receiving antennas; Satellite antennas; Satellite broadcasting;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/36.485118

Filename

485118