Abstract :
The Active Microwave Instrument (AMI), a combination of a C -band (5.3 GHz), VV polarization, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and a wind scatterometer is described. AMI is being carried on the first European Remote Sensing Satellite, ERS-1, which is also described. AMI´s primary geophysical data products are ocean surface wind speed and direction, ocean wave length and direction, and high-resolution radar mapping of land, ocean, ice, and coastal zones. The ERS-1 payload also includes a radar altimeter, an along-track scanning infrared radiometer, a microwave sounder, a precision range and range rate measuring equipment, and a laser retroreflector. ERS-1 will be in a polar orbit for global mapping. Prelaunch testing has shown that the quality of the AMI data products meets the mission objectives
Keywords :
artificial satellites; atmospheric boundary layer; geophysical equipment; ocean waves; radiometry; remote sensing by radar; sea ice; wind; 5.3 GHz; AMI; Active Microwave Instrument; C-band; ERS-1 satellite; European Remote Sensing Satellite; SHF; VV polarization; coastal zones; geophysical data products; global mapping; ice; laser retroreflector; microwave sounder; ocean surface wind speed; ocean wave length; radar altimeter; radar mapping; range rate measuring equipment; remote sensing; scanning infrared radiometer; synthetic aperture radar; wind scatterometer; Ambient intelligence; Instruments; Laser radar; Oceans; Polarization; Radar measurements; Radar remote sensing; Satellite broadcasting; Sea measurements; Spaceborne radar;
