GEMS-PEARL OSVW Retrieval Demonstration

Passive microwave polarimetric imaging radiometers are critical to global defense operations for the US Military, addressing many of the key JROCM SBEM gaps in Category A and Category B. In addition, passive microwave sensors of different architectures also produce key Environmental Data Records (EDRs) such as Ocean Surface Vector Winds (OSVW), Tropical Cyclone Intensity (TCI), and atmospheric temperature, water vapor, and precipitation. This evolution has occurred due to the fundamental advantage of microwave observations relative to visible and infrared observations in being able to observe the atmospheric column through clouds [Staelin, 1981]. Satellite passive microwave polarimetric imaging instruments measure the complex coherence (full Stokes vector including 3rd and 4th components). Imaging radiometers perform total column measurements to produce imagery products such as OSVW or TCI. Imaging instruments operate in bands that are less sensitive to atmospheric gases to image products based on surface emission and/or reflection. With the rise of proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) small satellite constellations and increasingly complex space mission architectures it is desirable to develop modular instrument architectures that can be optimized for specific observations, rather than tryign to design a one size fits all sensor that can have significant impacts on instrument and mission costs. In this project, the optimization of an end to end system for a passive microwave polarimetric imager optimized specifically for OSVW measurements is proposed. The hardware design for the polarimetric imaging instrument being developed by Weather Stream under other programs as well as the simulated performance of the instrument will be evaluated in an iterative process to develop an optimized payload and retrieval algorithm that can be deployed on a low cost satellite platform to enhance global OSVW observations in extreme precipitation such as hurricane rain bands and with improved spatial resolution over heritage sensors.Ý