A Wide Swath Imaging Microwave Radiometer for Hurricane Observations Central Florida Remote Sensing Lab University of Central Florida Presented at Marshall Space Flight Center May 18, 2006

Introduction  HIRad is a follow-on to the SFMR. –It will provide complete images of wind speed, rain rate and sea surface temperature. –It is a multi-frequency, C-band, Interferometric Radiometer using Synthetic Thinned Array Technology. –It provides wide-swath images at high spatial resolution. –It is well suited to UAV and spaceborne platforms.

HIRad Team Linwood Jones University of Central Florida Algorithms and Modeling Jim Johnson University of Central Florida Project Management Chris Ruf University of Michigan System Design and Calibration M.C. Bailey RTI, Inc. Array Design and Analysis

Heritage ESTAR –Soil Moisture –David LeVine, GSFC LRR –Rainfall –Chris Ruf, U. Michigan STAR Technology 10.7 GHz 1m x 1m SFMR Hurricane Georges Sept Eric W. Uhlhorn, and Peter G. Black, “Verification of Remotely Sensed Sea Surface Winds in Hurricanes,” J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 20, 2003, LRR

HIRad Concept Top Side HIRad Array Element Concept HiRad Swath NOAA’s Gulfstream-IV SP SFMR Swath HIRad wind speed simulation of Hurricane Floyd  Concept HIRad offers wide swath and high resolution imaging from Gulfstream IV or a UAV. Potential for spaceborne application.  Technology The multi-frequency, microstrip, stacked patch, thinned array is the technology challenge for HIRad.

UAV and Satellite Applications  In the future, light weight UAVs will provide high altitude, long duration flights.  HIRad is compatible.  HIRad can provide contiguous swath coverage and 2 observations per day from low earth orbit.