STARRS Calibration and Noise Issues for EuroSTARRS

Abstract

Abstract : The airborne microwave remote sensing was performed during EuroSTARRS using the Naval Research Laboratory STARRS instrument (Salinity, Temperature, and Roughness Remote Scanner). This leading edge passive L-Band instrument was acquired by NRL shortly before the campaign. Development of techniques for its use, and studies to understand its performance, are important parts of the acquisition process. In this paper we will examine instrument calibration and noise issues for STARRS which are associated with the flights conducted as part of the EuroSTARRS campaign, from November 16-23, 2001 in Germany, France and Spain. The issues we will address here are: pitch and roll improvements, L-Band absolute and ocean calibration, instrument stability, and environmental noise sources. A strong environmental noise source, located in the direction of Barcelona, was noticed during the Casablanca flight. A second environmental source was noted in the analysis later. The high altitude section of the Casablanca flight has elevated TB (most notably in all the outboard beams) relative to the low altitude section of the flight. The effects such environmental (presumably man-made) sources. Will have on satellite observations of L-Band brightness temperature may be significant.