CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - AMSR -
Full Name Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer Status No longer operational
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 Data Format
Measurements and Applications Measurements of water vapour, cloud liquid water, precipitation, winds, sea surface temperature, sea ice concentration, snow cover, soil moisture.
Resolution Summary 5 - 50 km (dependent on frequency)
Swath Summary 1600 km
Accuracy Summary Sea surface temparature: 0.5 K, sea ice cover: 10%, cloud liquid water: 0.05 kg/m2, precipitation rate: 10%, water vapour: 3.5 kg/m2 through total column, sea surface wind speed 1.5 m/s
Waveband Summary Microwave: 6.925 GHz, 10.65 GHz, 18.7 GHz, 23.8 GHz, 36.5 GHz, 50.3 GHz, 52.8 GHz, 89.0 GHz
MWIR (~3.0 µm - ~6.0 µm)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Atmospheric Humidity FieldsAtmospheric specific humidity (TC)
Cloud particle properties and profileCloud liquid water (column/profile)
Liquid water and precipitation ratePrecipitation intensity at the surface (liquid or solid)
Precipitation index (daily cumulative)
Ocean surface windsWind speed over sea surface (horizontal)
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Snow cover, edge and depthSnow cover
Snow 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
ADEOS-II - Advanced Earth Observing Satellite - II (2002 - 2003)