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PASSIVE MICROWAVE SENSOR [1 record]

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Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2007-01-31

English

Subject field(s)
  • Radar, Radio Guidance and Goniometry
  • Spacecraft
  • Remote Sensing
DEF

[A] sensor that observe weak microwave signals naturally radiated from the Earth's surface.

CONT

A passive sensor is a microwave instrument designed to receive and to measure natural emissions produced by the Earths surface and its atmosphere. The frequency and strength of these natural emissions characterize the type and the status of a large number of important geophysical, atmospheric and surface parameters of the land, sea, and ice caps, that describe the status of the Earth system (i.e., The Earth, its atmosphere, and the oceans) and its mechanisms.

CONT

Microwave energy recorded by a passive sensor can be emitted by the atmosphere, reflected from the surface, emitted from the surface, or transmitted from the subsurface.

OBS

Typically, microwave passive sensors are radiometers or scanners and are characterized by low spatial resolution.

OBS

passive sensor: term officially approved by the RADARSAT-2 Terminology Approval Group (RTAG).

French

Domaine(s)
  • Radar, radioguidage et radiogoniométrie
  • Engins spatiaux
  • Télédétection
DEF

Capteur qui reçoit une énergie émise sans que lui-même irradie la scène.

CONT

Les capteurs passifs sont uniquement récepteurs (ex. : radiomètres, caméras, spectroradiomètres, etc.), la source d'énergie est le plus souvent le Soleil ou la Terre.

OBS

capteur passif : terme uniformisé par le Groupe de travail de la terminologie de RADARSAT-2 (GTTR).

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Guía radárica, radioguía y radiogoniometría
  • Naves espaciales
  • Teledetección
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