Abstract
In search for a stable, well characterized terrestrial calibration target for SMOS, an airborne campaign was carried out in January 2013 over the Dome C area of Antarctica, and the surface was measured by an L-band radiometer. The focus was on homogeneity, and an area of 350 × 350 km around the Concordia station was surveyed using grid, star, and circular flight patterns. Significant and maybe surprising dynamics in brightness temperature is observed. An East-West line through Concordia displays almost 10 K variations, and in specific cases a slope of almost 1 K per km. It is concluded that use of the Dome C area for calibration check of spaceborne radiometers is indeed viable, but with caution - especially when comparing instruments with differing spatial resolutions.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Proceedings of ESA Living Planet Symposium |
Publisher | European Space Agency |
Publication date | 2013 |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Event | ESA Living Planet Symposium — 2013 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom Duration: 9 Sept 2013 → 13 Sept 2013 |
Conference
Conference | ESA Living Planet Symposium — 2013 |
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Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
City | Edinburgh |
Period | 09/09/2013 → 13/09/2013 |