Advances in microwave remote sensing of the ocean and atmosphere

Abstract

This article reviews the current state-of-the-art and future prospects of the microwave techniques for remote sensing of the earth's atmosphere and ocean. Geophysical parameters and their relationship with measured thermal microwave radiation is established through radiative transfer processes. The atmospheric temperature profile obtained from microwave sounding unit (MSU) onboard TIROS-N series of satellites is operational and is used for numerical weather prediction. The demonstrated applications of scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) onboard most recent and advanced SEASAT satellite are highlighted.The capability of SEASAT active sensors for monitoring ocean parameters have also been indicated. Feasible applications of microwave techniques e.g. moisture profile with advanced moisture sounder (AMSU), and surface pressure from multifrequency active microwave pressure sounder (MPS) are also described. Finally the recent and advanced microwave limb sounding (MLS) technique and its applications to upper atmospheric research has been reviewed.