TOPEX Microwave Radiometer

Pictured above is a time series of sea level images over the Pacific Ocean depicting the evolution of the 1997 El Nino Southern Oscillation from peak to decay as measured by the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite. (Images courtesy of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, TOPEX Project Office)

We are involved in the calibration, validation, and on-orbit performance assessment of the TOPEX Microwave Radiometer (TMR).   TMR is a 3-frequency radiometer flown on the TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) satellite in low Earth orbit. It operates at 18, 21, and 37 GHz in a nadir only viewing direction which is co-aligned with the T/P radar altimeters. TMR monitors and corrects for the propagation path delay of the altimeter radar signal due to water vapor and non-precipitating liquid water in the atmosphere.