Passive microwave remote sensing of the atmosphere and ocean

Abstract

The microwave remote sensing experiments conducted during the last decade using airborne and spaceborne sensors are now evolving as operational spacecraft observation systems. Microwave sounding unit (MUS) onboard TIROS-N regularly provides global atmospheric temperature profile required for numerical weather prediction. The monitoring of composition profile and geophysical parameters from space platform is now a reality and holds a great promise for future meteorological and oceanographic research. This review paper summarises the recent advances and future opportunities in passive microwave radiometry. Indian microwave remote sensing programme and achievements to date are also described.