Definitions used in this ATBD#
Here follows a glossary, or list of definitions
- 2 Meter Air Temperature#
The 2 Meter Air Temperature T2M is the temperature of the air at 2 meters above the ground. It is usually expressed in Kelvin and one of the surface parameters from the ECMWF models.
- Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2#
The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 AMSR2 is a Satellite based Radiometer launched by JAXA in 2012. It is a successor to the AMSR-E instrument. It covers a frequency range from 6.9 GHz to 89 GHz.
- Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer EOS#
The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer AMSR-E is a Satellite based Radiometer launched by JAXA in 2002. It is a predecessor to the AMSR2 instrument. It covers a frequency range from 6.9 GHz to 89 GHz.
- Brightness Temperature#
The Brightness Temperature TB is the temperature of a surface as seen by a passive microwave sensor. It is a measure of the amount of energy emitted by a surface. It is usually expressed in Kelvin.
- Cloud Liquid Water#
The Cloud Liquid Water CLW is a measure of the amount of liquid water in the atmosphere along a atmospheric column. It is usually expressed in kg/m^3.
- Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer#
The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer CIMR is a Microwave Radiometer which launch is planned by ESA in 2029.
- ERA5#
ERA5 is the latest iteration of reanalysis datasets from ECMWF. It is a global dataset with a horizontal resolution of 0.25 degrees and a vertical resolution of 137 levels. It is available from 1950 onwards.
- European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts#
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts ECMWF is an independent intergovernmental organization supported by most of the nations of Europe. It is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to its Member States.
- Ice Surface Temperature#
The Ice Surface Temperature IST is the temperature of the ice surface (only ice). It is usually expressed in Kelvin.
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency#
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA is a Japanese government agency responsible for space exploration.
- Multi Year Ice Fraction#
The Multi Year Ice Fraction MYI is the fraction of the sea ice which is multi year ice. It is a measure of the amount of multi year ice in a given area. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
- Sea Ice Concentration#
The Sea Ice Concentration SIC is the fraction of the sea surface covered by sea ice. It is a measure of the amount of sea ice in a given area. It is usually expressed as a percentage.
- Sea Ice Thickness#
The Sea Ice Thickness SIT is the thickness of the sea ice. It is usually expressed in meters.
- Sea Surface Salinity#
The Sea Surface Salinity SSS is the salinity of the sea surface (only water). It is usually expressed in g/kg, also found as ppt (parts per thousand).
- Sea Surface Temperature#
The Sea Surface Temperature SST is the temperature of the sea surface (only water). It is usually expressed in Kelvin.
- Skin Temperature#
The Skin Temperature TSK is the temperature of the ground surface to air interface. It is usually expressed in Kelvin and one of the surface parameters from the ECMWF models.
- Soil Moisture Active/Passive#
The Soil Moisture Active/Passive SMAP is a Satellite based L-Band Radiometer launched by NASA in 2015.
- Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity#
The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity SMOS is a Satellite based L-Band Radiometer launched by ESA in 2009.
- Total Electron Content#
The Total Electron Content TEC is a measure of the amount of electrons in the atmosphere along a atmospheric column. It is usually expressed in electrons/m^3.
- Total Water Vapor#
The Total Water Vapor TWV is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere along a atmospheric column. It is usually expressed in kg/m^3.
- Wind Speed#
The Wind Speed WS is the speed of the wind in arbitrary direction. It is usually expressed in m/s.