Algorithms for retrieving geophysical parameters from the MADRAS and SAPHIR sensors of the Megha‐Tropiques satellite: Indian scenario

Abstract

Abstract The major scientific objective of the Megha‐Tropiques (MT) satellite, an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)–Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) collaborative project, is to understand the energy and water cycles in the global tropical region. With its 20° inclined orbit, it will frequently measure radiation emitted by the Earth‐Atmosphere System in the visible, infrared and microwave spectrum through its four sensors on board. Various geophysical parameters, namely water vapour, cloud liquid water and surface winds over oceanic regions, and the rainfall, humidity profile and top‐of‐atmosphere radiative fluxes over land as well as over oceanic regions will be derived from the measurements made by these instruments. This article deals with the efforts made by ISRO to develop algorithms for deriving these geophysical parameters from the microwave imager and sounder, mentioning the pre‐launch specifications with prelude examples from existing space‐borne sensors of similar types. The sensor‐specific algorithms are presented in different sections. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society