Radiometers operating in the GHz to THz region provide valuable information regarding the content of water vapor, a major greenhouse gas and oxygen. The distribution and movement of water vapor in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere provides key information to scientists seeking to refine climate models as well as predict extreme weather events. Researchers would benefit from having widely deployable satellite based radiometers with short revisit times. The advent of small satellite constellations makes this idea feasible.
Millimeter-wave radiometers can be used in many remote sensing and passive surveillance applications such as airport screening, target detection, navigation aids for aircraft, and precision terminal guidance and munitions.
More »