New Russian meteorological satellite Meteor-M N 2: sensing of the subsurface, surface and atmospheric characteristics by MTVZA-GY microwave imager/sounder

The Meteor-M N 2 spacecraft with microwave radiometer MTVZA-GY has been launched on July 8, 2014 on sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 830 km. MTVZA-GY is a 29 channel microwave imager/sounder for remote sensing of the ocean and land surface parameters as well as for measuring total atmospheric water vapor content, total cloud liquid water content, air temperature and humidity profiles. MTVZA GY operates at frequencies10-190 GHz. The total power radiometer configuration is employed. The antenna system of MTVZA-GY consists of an offset parabolic reflector of dimension 65 cm, illuminated by four feed-horns antenna. Results of vicarious calibration and longtime stability study are discussed. Globe MTVZA-GY data are presented. The examples of joint analysis of MTVZA-GY and other remote and ground-based observations of severe marine weather systems and Antarctica are discussed.