Design of MACSIM Cloud Radar for Earth observation Radiation Mission

Author

Vincent, N. ; Suinot, N. ; Lin, C.-C.

Author_Institution

Alcatel Espace, Toulouse, France

Volume

1

fYear

1997

fDate

3-8 Aug 1997

Firstpage

548

Abstract

Based upon results of a pre-phase A study, this paper presents the design of MACSIM Cloud Radar, which is one of the two active instruments of the Radiation Mission. This radar is a 95 or 79 GHz non-scanning instrument which collects echoes reflected by cloud particles. Its main measurement objectives are the altitudes of the cloud top and base with an accuracy of ±250 m and the ice/liquid water content as a function of the altitude of the different cloud layers. As a result of several trade-offs, a nadir looking radar transmitting unmodulated pulses of about 3 μs is designed with a primary design objective of improving the sensitivity. In the last section, detection results for a set of typical clouds are summarised which demonstrates the feasibility of a light instrument in compliance with the user requirements

Keywords

atmospheric measuring apparatus; atmospheric techniques; clouds; meteorological radar; radar equipment; remote sensing by radar; spaceborne radar; 79 GHz; 95 GHz; EHF; Earth observation Radiation Mission; MACSIM Cloud Radar; W-band; atmosphere; cloud; cloud base altitude; cloud top height; design; equipment; ice content; instrument; liquid water content; measurement technique; meteorological radar; mm wave radar; nadir looking radar; radar remote sensing; radar system; spaceborne radar; Aerosols; Atmosphere; Atmospheric measurements; Clouds; Earth; Extraterrestrial measurements; Instruments; Laser radar; Optical receivers; Thickness measurement;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 1997. IGARSS '97. Remote Sensing - A Scientific Vision for Sustainable Development., 1997 IEEE International

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3836-7

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IGARSS.1997.615939

Filename

615939