Main design parameters and imaging/radiometric performances of the METOP Second Generation conically scanning radiometers

Abstract

In the context of MetOp Second Generation (MetOp-SG) phase A/B1 study, Thales Alenia Space is responsible of Microwave Imager (MWI) and Ice Cloud Imager (ICI) instruments. MWI and ICI are conically scanning microwave radiometers, together covering frequency range from 18.7 GHz up to 664 GHz. The on-going study covers all elements of the space segment and instrument architecture and deals with the analysis of the space system requirements and the definition of candidate implementation concepts in order to satisfy the user's needs and requirements. MWI and ICI will fly on a spacecraft in a near circular sun-synchronous, near polar orbit. In order to acquire measurements on a wide swath the instrument will rotates continuously about an axis parallel to the local spacecraft vertical with an active portion of the scan of ~±65 deg centred on the foreword direction of the spacecraft. The Earth scene view is a nearly constant incidence angle of about 53 deg. Challenging Imaging and radiometric requirements are applicable to MWI and ICI instruments and a trade-off has been performed in order to identify and size main system parameters. In the paper a description of the trade-off that was performed will be presented and the results achieved will be described.