Ground-based microwave spectroradiometer for thermal sounding of the troposphere

Abstract

The laboratory model of a mobile solid-state uncooled microwave spectroradiometer, operating in the frequency range of 50 to 55 GHz is described. It is designed for remote passive monitoring of the tropospheric temperature. The spectroradiometer consists of a heterodyne receiver with a low noise amplifier at input and 8-channel spectrum analyzer. To ensure the internal calibration of the intensity of the received atmospheric radio emission using the built-in unit type modulator-calibrator based on GaAs diodes with the Schottky barrier. The antenna system of the spectroradiometer consists of a teflon enlightened lens and conical corrugated horn. The device is equipped with an automated control system process measurement, calibration, and data pre-processing.