CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - AMSR3 -
Full Name Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 3 Status Being developed
Instrument Agencies JAXA Maturity
Instrument Type Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (passive microwave) Geometry Conical scanning
Instrument Technology Multi-purpose imaging MW radiometer Sampling Imaging
Data Access Open Access Data Format NetCDF
Measurements and Applications Measurements of water vapour, cloud liquid water, precipitation including snowfall, winds, sea surface temperature, sea ice concentration, snow cover, soil moisture.
Resolution Summary 5 - 50 km (dependent on frequency)
Swath Summary 1535 km (effective swath)
Accuracy Summary Target and standard accuracies for each standard product were defined from user requirements.
Waveband Summary Microwave: 6.925 GHz, 7.3 GHz, 10.25 GHz, 10.65 GHz, 18.7 GHz, 23.8 GHz, 36.5 GHz, 89.0 GHz, 165.5 GHz, 183.3 GHz
MW (~0.1 cm - ~100 cm)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Atmospheric Humidity FieldsAtmospheric specific humidity (TC)
Cloud particle properties and profileCloud liquid water (TC)
Liquid water and precipitation ratePrecipitation intensity at the surface (liquid or solid)
Ocean surface windsWind speed over sea surface (horizontal)
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Snow cover, edge and depthSnow water equivalent
Soil moistureSoil moisture at the surface
Surface temperature (ocean)Sea surface temperature
Thematic Links Global Climate Observing System Essential Climate Variables (GCOS ECVs)
ECVDescriptionProduct(s)ECV Inventory 3.0 Record(s)
Cloud Properties click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Precipitation click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea Ice click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Sea Surface Temperature click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Snow click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Soil Moisture click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Water Vapour (upper air) click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
GOSAT-GW - Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water cycle (2025 - 2031)