IMI (Interferometric Microwave Imager): A L/S/C tri-frequency radiometer for Water Cycle Observation Mission(WCOM)

Water Cycle Observation Mission (WCOM) is an earth science mission proposed and focused on the research of water cycle under global change. With its three dedicated designed main payloads, WCOM can achieve synchronized observation on a group of global water cycle key parameters, including soil moisture, ocean salinity, snow water equivalent, soil freeze-thaw, atmospheric water vapor, precipitation and other associated parameters. One of the three WCOM main payloads names IMI (Interferometric Microwave Imager), which is a newly designed L/S/C tri-frequency radiometer aiming to provide advanced measurement capability on soil moisture and ocean salinity. In this paper, the instrument concept and preliminary system design of WCOM/IMI will be introduced. Recent progresses on the filed experiments of an L-band demonstrator will also be introduced.