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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #325192
Title: Inter-comparison of SMAP, SMOS and Aquarius L-band brightness temperature observations

Author
item BINDLISH, R. - Science Systems, Inc
item Jackson, Thomas
item PEIPMEIER, J. - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item YUEH, S. - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
item KERR, Y. - Collaborator

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2016
Publication Date: 7/18/2016
Citation: Bindlish, R., Jackson, T.J., Peipmeier, J., Yueh, S., Kerr, Y. 2016. Inter-comparison of SMAP, SMOS and Aquarius L-band brightness temperature observations. Meeting Abstract. APP:1/15/2016 SUBMIT:1/15/2016 PUB:7/18/2016 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Verifying the calibration of the SMAP radiometer over land observations is an important mission requirement. Inter-comparison of L-band brightness temperature observations from different satellites (SMAP, SMOS and Aquarius) is a useful tool for radiometer calibration. Brightness temperatures observations made at the same frequency, polarization, incidence angle and coincident in time and location should be consistent with each other. SMAP brightness temperature observations were compared with SMOS observations at 40o incidence angle. The observations from the two satellites were found to be consistent with each other over the entire dynamic range (both ocean and land). The RMSD between the two missions was less than 3 K. The two observations exhibit a strong linear relationship and the observed bias was less than 0.5 K for both polarizations. This bias is within the required target accuracy requirement of the SMAP radiometer (requirement of 1.3 K).