The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) instrument: role, performance, and status

Author

Bidwell, S.W. ; Flaming, G.M. ; Durning, J.F. ; Smith, E.A.

Author_Institution

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA

Volume

1

fYear

2005

fDate

25-29 July 2005

Abstract

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) microwave imager (GMI) instrument is a multi-channel, conical-scanning, microwave radiometer serving an essential role in the near-global-coverage and frequent-revisit-time requirements of GPM. As a part of its contribution to GPM, NASA will provide a GMI instrument and a spacecraft for the Core observatory and is considering the acquisition of a second GMI instrument for placement aboard a constellation spacecraft with a payload and orbit to be defined. In March 2005, NASA chose Ball Aerospace & Technology Corporation to provide the GMI instrument(s). This paper describes the GMI instrument, the technical performance requirements, its role within the combined passive and active microwave measurements on the Core observatory, and the timeline for GMI development and acquisition.

Keywords

atmospheric measuring apparatus; atmospheric precipitation; data acquisition; microwave measurement; radiometry; 10.65 to 89.0 GHz; Ball Aerospace & Technology Corporation; Core observatory; Global Precipitation Measurement microwave imager instrument; conical-scanning radiometer; constellation spacecraft; data acquisition; microwave radiometer; multichannel radiometer; passive-active microwave measurement; technical performance requirements; Extraterrestrial measurements; Frequency measurement; Geometry; Instruments; Microwave measurements; Microwave radiometry; NASA; Observatories; Space technology; Space vehicles;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2005. IGARSS '05. Proceedings. 2005 IEEE International

Print_ISBN

0-7803-9050-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IGARSS.2005.1526109

Filename

1526109