isprsarchives XXXIX B8 551 2012
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XXXIX-B8, 2012
XXII ISPRS Congress, 25 August – 01 September 2012, Melbourne, Australia
SAC-D AQUARIUS A SATELLITE FOR OCEAN, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT.
ONE YEAR OF DATA.
S. Torrusio a, G. Lagerloef b, M. Rabollia, D. LeVinec
a
CONAE, National Commission on Space Activities, Avda. Paseo Colón 751, Buenos Aires (1063), Argentina –
(storrusio, mrabolli)@conae.gov.ar
b
ESR, Earth and Space Research, 2101 Fourth Ave., Suite 1310, Seattle, US – lager@esr.org
c
NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, Washington DC,US - David.M.LeVine@nasa.gov
Commission VIII, WG VIII/9
KEYWORDS: SAC-D Aquarius, ocean salinity, microwave radiometers, optical sensors, international mission, observatory.
ABSTRACT:
The SAC-D/Aquarius satellite was launched in June 10, 2011. It´s a joint mission between Argentina (through CONAE) and US
(NASA). This satellite is a true Observatory with a suite of sensors for Earth Observation, its weight is 1400 kg, sun-synchronous
orbit at 657 km (6 pm ascendant node), revisit of seven days. Other space agencies have contributed with instruments and support
(facilities and ground segment), as CNES, CSI, ASI and AEB/INPE. The primary objective is to monitor global variations in ocean
surface salinity (SSS) in order to improve the knowledge about ocean circulation, water cycle and climate. The SSS is performed
with Aquarius instrument (NASA). Other oceanic and atmospheric parameters are measured with a MWR, from CONAE, in K and
Ka band, as wind speed, rain rate, sea ice, water vapour and liquid water in clouds. The thermal camera (NIRST) estimates sea
surface temperature and detect high temperature events (fires and volcanic eruptions). The High Sensitivity Camera (HSC) generates
night images (very useful for fishery activity monitoring in the sea, studying of electrical storms, polar auroras and urban
application). The DCS (Data Collection System, from CONAE) can receive meteorological and environmental data from ground
platforms and distribute among users. The TDP (Technological Demonstration Package, from CONAE) measures different
parameters of satellite position and velocity. Other two important instruments are ROSA (from Italy) and CARMEN 1 (from France).
The first is an atmospheric sounder, it allows elaborating atmospheric profiles of temperature, pressure and humidity, and the second
has detectors for studies of space debris and the effects of radiation on electronic devices.
This work provides a review of the first year of data, including the status of calibration and validation, other finding and at the same
time we want to present the progress in the active educational and outreach program including the information of SAC-D Aquarius
Mission.
___________________________________
* Corresponding author: Sandra Torrusio
551
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XXXIX-B8, 2012
XXII ISPRS Congress, 25 August – 01 September 2012, Melbourne, Australia
Other two important instruments are ROSA (from Italy) and
CARMEN 1 (from France). The first is an atmospheric sounder,
it allows elaborating atmospheric profiles of temperature,
pressure and humidity, and the second has detectors for studies
of space debris and the effects of radiation on electronic
devices. At the time of this writing, the Aquarius sensor has
collected ocean salinity data since late August 2011, and initial
unvalidated data have been released for evaluation.
The instrument generates a salinity global map every seven days
and is designed to achieve 0.2 psu accuracy over monthly
averages on 150km spatial scale. The data show very robust
signatures of the basin and sub-basin scale salinity patterns.
These measurements can be improved with the use of MWR
data because the rain, the wind and the sea ice are errors source
for the salinity estimation, so the synergy between both
instruments with a coincident footprint allow these
improvements. We are working now on this point providing
MWR data (level L1A y L1B) and generating the first products
(L2). The cal/val of these data is also in progress.
The NIRST camera (bands in: 4, 11 and 12 microns) was
developed in collaboration with Canada, and it is the first time
that microbolometers technology are in the space. Now we are
working on calibration data and preparation of the first
products. The HSC camera, ROSA and CARMEN 1
instruments are the second in its type, because the first are on
board the SAC-C satellite (launched in 2000 and currently in
orbit).
The mentioned parameters are being used for the International
Science Team in different issues (emergencies, soil moisture,
health, hydrology, ice, atmosphere, etc.) and they are or will be
available from the web site of NASA and CONAE.
This Mission is in the framework of National Space Plan of
Argentina, which social benefit areas related to this project are:
productive activities as fishery and agricultural, health and
disaster (floods, droughts, fire, volcanic eruptions); ocean and
1. INTRODUCTION
The SAC-D/Aquarius satellite was launched in June 10, 2011
from Vanderberg, California. It´s a joint mission between
Argentina (through CONAE (National Commission on Space
Activities) and US (NASA). This satellite is a true Observatory
with a suite of sensors for Earth Observation, its weight is 1400
kg, sun-synchronous orbit at 657 km (6 pm ascendant node),
revisit of seven days. Other space agencies have contributed
with instruments and support (facilities and ground segment), as
CNES (National Centre of Space Studies, from France), CSI
(Canadian Space Agency, from Canada), ASI (Italian Space
Agency, from Italy) and AEB (through INPE belonging to
Brazilian Space Agency, from Brazil). The Ground Segment of
CONAE (in Córdoba) has the control of the satellite from the
Ground Station in Córdoba, Argentina.
The primary objective of the mission is to monitor global
variations in ocean surface salinity (SSS) in order to improve
the knowledge about ocean circulation, water cycle and climate.
The SSS is performed with Aquarius instrument (from NASA,
it´s an integration of radiometer and scatterometer in L band).
Other oceanic and atmospheric parameters are measured with a
Microwave Radiometer (MWR, from CONAE, in K and Ka
band) as wind speed, rain rate, sea ice, water vapour and liquid
water in clouds. The thermal camera (NIRST) estimates sea
surface temperature and detect high temperature events (fires
and volcanic eruptions). The High Sensitivity Camera (HSC)
generates night images (very useful for fishery activity
monitoring in the sea, studying of electrical storms, polar
auroras and urban application). The DCS (Data Collection
System, from CONAE) can receive meteorological and
environmental data from ground platforms and distribute among
users. The TDP (Technological Demonstration Package, from
CONAE) measures different parameters of satellite position and
velocity.
IN S TR UM E NT
O B JE C TIV E S
S P E CI FIC AT IO N S
R E SO LUT IO N
AG E NC Y
A q u ar iu s
U nd ers ta ndin g oc ean c irc ulation ,
In te grated L- Ba nd radi om et er
T hree b eam s :7 6 x 94,
NA SA
g loba l w at er c y cl e a nd
(1.413 G hz) a nd
8 4 x 120 , 96 x 1 56 k m
c lim ate interac t ion. Soi l m ois ture
sc atero m eter (1. 26 G hz )
MWR
M ic ro w ave
R ad iom eter
o ve r A rgen ti na
s w at h: 3 90 km
R ain rate, win ds s pe ed,
Ban ds : 23. 8 G h z V Po l. &
Six t een bea m s
s ea ic e c onc entration ,
36.5 G hz H a nd V Pol.
< 5 4 km
wa te r v ap our,
c loud liq uid w ater
Ba nd w idht : 0 .5 an d 1 G hz
H ot sp ot ev en ts ,
B ands : 4 , 11 y 1 2 u m
Sp ac e res olution : 350 m
CO N AE
s ea s urfac e tem p erature
In st an ta neou s s wa th 1 82 Km
in t em per at ure: 0 .5°C
C SA
m eas ur em ents
ex ten ded s w at h 1000 Km
sm a lles t bu rning d etec tab le area
P oint ing : ±30 °
2 00 m ²
Urb an ligh ts , e lec tr ic s to rm s,
Pan cro m ati c: 450- 610 nm
200 -300 m eter s
CO N AE
polar re gion s,
Sw ath: 1600 K m
CO N AE
CO N AE
S w ath : 38 0 k m
N IR S T
N ew I nfrar ed
S ens or T ec hnol ogy
H SC
Hi gh Sen si tiv ity
C am e ra
s no w c ov er
DCS
D ata Co llec ti on
S ys tem
C olle ctio n S ys t em of m eteoro logic al
and en vir onm en ta l d ata
4 01. 55 M hz u plink
2 c on tac ts pe r day
R O SA
Ra dio O c c ult at ion
S oun der f or A tm o sp here
D eterm ina tio n of atm os phe ric pr ofiles
on tem pe rature, p res s ure and
m ois t ure
G P S Oc c ultation T ec hniqu es
Ho riz : 30 0 K m V ert: 300 m
ASI
C A R M EN I
Effec ts of c os m ic ra diat ion
I: th ree Si detec t ors ,
I: 25 6 ch anne ls s pec t ra
C N ES
in e lec tro nic d ev ic es ,
Si/Li
S: Sens it iv ity: 0.5 u pa rt.
dis tributio n o f m ic ro-pa rt icl es
S: four M O S s ens ors
a t 10K km / s ec
P os it ion, vel oc ity and tim e
GPS r ec eiv er
P os it ion: 2 0m , v eloc ity :1m /s ec
in ertial ang ular v eloc ity
In ert ial U nit R ef ere nc e
A ngul ar Ra ndom W alk :
with 20 0 plat form s
ICA R E & S O D AD
an d sp ac e debri s
TD P
T ech n o lo g ical
D em os tra tio n Pac kag e
determ ina ti on
0.008 de g/s q rt h
Table 1: Main characteristics and applications of each instrument on board SAC-D/ AQUARIUS.
552
CO N AE
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XXXIX-B8, 2012
XXII ISPRS Congress, 25 August – 01 September 2012, Melbourne, Australia
climate. This work provides a review of the first year of data,
including the status of calibration and validation, other finding
and at the same time we want to present the progress in the
active educational and outreach program including the
information of SAC-D Aquarius Mission.
4. CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate the performance of the satellite and
its sensors. At present we are working on the calibration of the
instruments and validation of the data.
The International Science Team of this mission are using and
applying the data around the world. More than 40 groups from
US, Argentina, Italy, Japan, Brasil, Chile are part of the
international team, and the exchange among them is very rich.
This is the beginning. In the case of Argentine Projects (15),
they are supported for the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Productive Innovation.
The activities in education and public outreach are other
important point in the Mission, a lot of material was prepared
for the web site, for hardcopies and digital format.
2. GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS AND APPLICATIONS OF
THE SENSORS
The Table 1 summarizes the general characteristics of each
instrument on board SAC-D Aquarius satellite, and their main
applications related to ocean, climate and environment.
3. FIRST RESULTS
The following figures (1,2,3,4,5,6) show the first science data
obtained from SAC-D Aquarius Observatory. These are some
examples, now we are working on the calibration of each
instruments and the validation of the data in order to improve
the quality of data and products for end users.
Many academic and scientific teams around the world are
developing new algorithms and products. Some of these data
can be downloaded from NASA and CONAE web site.
5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors thank to the NASA, CONAE and all the institutions
who are participated in this big project.
Figure. 1: First Global Sea Surface Salinity Map (NASA) from Aquarius.
Figure 2: Global Water Vapour Map from MWR.
Figure 3: Global Rain Rate Map from MWR.
553
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XXXIX-B8, 2012
XXII ISPRS Congress, 25 August – 01 September 2012, Melbourne, Australia
Figure. 4: Global Wind Speed Map from MWR.
Figure 5: Sea Ice Concentration in Antartica from MWR.
i d
d
Figure 7: Fire detected by HSC in Arauco Gulf (Chile).
Figure 6: Non calibrated image of Mesopotamia
Sector (Argentina), from NIRST .(11 μm).
Revised May 2012
554
XXII ISPRS Congress, 25 August – 01 September 2012, Melbourne, Australia
SAC-D AQUARIUS A SATELLITE FOR OCEAN, CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT.
ONE YEAR OF DATA.
S. Torrusio a, G. Lagerloef b, M. Rabollia, D. LeVinec
a
CONAE, National Commission on Space Activities, Avda. Paseo Colón 751, Buenos Aires (1063), Argentina –
(storrusio, mrabolli)@conae.gov.ar
b
ESR, Earth and Space Research, 2101 Fourth Ave., Suite 1310, Seattle, US – lager@esr.org
c
NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, Washington DC,US - David.M.LeVine@nasa.gov
Commission VIII, WG VIII/9
KEYWORDS: SAC-D Aquarius, ocean salinity, microwave radiometers, optical sensors, international mission, observatory.
ABSTRACT:
The SAC-D/Aquarius satellite was launched in June 10, 2011. It´s a joint mission between Argentina (through CONAE) and US
(NASA). This satellite is a true Observatory with a suite of sensors for Earth Observation, its weight is 1400 kg, sun-synchronous
orbit at 657 km (6 pm ascendant node), revisit of seven days. Other space agencies have contributed with instruments and support
(facilities and ground segment), as CNES, CSI, ASI and AEB/INPE. The primary objective is to monitor global variations in ocean
surface salinity (SSS) in order to improve the knowledge about ocean circulation, water cycle and climate. The SSS is performed
with Aquarius instrument (NASA). Other oceanic and atmospheric parameters are measured with a MWR, from CONAE, in K and
Ka band, as wind speed, rain rate, sea ice, water vapour and liquid water in clouds. The thermal camera (NIRST) estimates sea
surface temperature and detect high temperature events (fires and volcanic eruptions). The High Sensitivity Camera (HSC) generates
night images (very useful for fishery activity monitoring in the sea, studying of electrical storms, polar auroras and urban
application). The DCS (Data Collection System, from CONAE) can receive meteorological and environmental data from ground
platforms and distribute among users. The TDP (Technological Demonstration Package, from CONAE) measures different
parameters of satellite position and velocity. Other two important instruments are ROSA (from Italy) and CARMEN 1 (from France).
The first is an atmospheric sounder, it allows elaborating atmospheric profiles of temperature, pressure and humidity, and the second
has detectors for studies of space debris and the effects of radiation on electronic devices.
This work provides a review of the first year of data, including the status of calibration and validation, other finding and at the same
time we want to present the progress in the active educational and outreach program including the information of SAC-D Aquarius
Mission.
___________________________________
* Corresponding author: Sandra Torrusio
551
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XXXIX-B8, 2012
XXII ISPRS Congress, 25 August – 01 September 2012, Melbourne, Australia
Other two important instruments are ROSA (from Italy) and
CARMEN 1 (from France). The first is an atmospheric sounder,
it allows elaborating atmospheric profiles of temperature,
pressure and humidity, and the second has detectors for studies
of space debris and the effects of radiation on electronic
devices. At the time of this writing, the Aquarius sensor has
collected ocean salinity data since late August 2011, and initial
unvalidated data have been released for evaluation.
The instrument generates a salinity global map every seven days
and is designed to achieve 0.2 psu accuracy over monthly
averages on 150km spatial scale. The data show very robust
signatures of the basin and sub-basin scale salinity patterns.
These measurements can be improved with the use of MWR
data because the rain, the wind and the sea ice are errors source
for the salinity estimation, so the synergy between both
instruments with a coincident footprint allow these
improvements. We are working now on this point providing
MWR data (level L1A y L1B) and generating the first products
(L2). The cal/val of these data is also in progress.
The NIRST camera (bands in: 4, 11 and 12 microns) was
developed in collaboration with Canada, and it is the first time
that microbolometers technology are in the space. Now we are
working on calibration data and preparation of the first
products. The HSC camera, ROSA and CARMEN 1
instruments are the second in its type, because the first are on
board the SAC-C satellite (launched in 2000 and currently in
orbit).
The mentioned parameters are being used for the International
Science Team in different issues (emergencies, soil moisture,
health, hydrology, ice, atmosphere, etc.) and they are or will be
available from the web site of NASA and CONAE.
This Mission is in the framework of National Space Plan of
Argentina, which social benefit areas related to this project are:
productive activities as fishery and agricultural, health and
disaster (floods, droughts, fire, volcanic eruptions); ocean and
1. INTRODUCTION
The SAC-D/Aquarius satellite was launched in June 10, 2011
from Vanderberg, California. It´s a joint mission between
Argentina (through CONAE (National Commission on Space
Activities) and US (NASA). This satellite is a true Observatory
with a suite of sensors for Earth Observation, its weight is 1400
kg, sun-synchronous orbit at 657 km (6 pm ascendant node),
revisit of seven days. Other space agencies have contributed
with instruments and support (facilities and ground segment), as
CNES (National Centre of Space Studies, from France), CSI
(Canadian Space Agency, from Canada), ASI (Italian Space
Agency, from Italy) and AEB (through INPE belonging to
Brazilian Space Agency, from Brazil). The Ground Segment of
CONAE (in Córdoba) has the control of the satellite from the
Ground Station in Córdoba, Argentina.
The primary objective of the mission is to monitor global
variations in ocean surface salinity (SSS) in order to improve
the knowledge about ocean circulation, water cycle and climate.
The SSS is performed with Aquarius instrument (from NASA,
it´s an integration of radiometer and scatterometer in L band).
Other oceanic and atmospheric parameters are measured with a
Microwave Radiometer (MWR, from CONAE, in K and Ka
band) as wind speed, rain rate, sea ice, water vapour and liquid
water in clouds. The thermal camera (NIRST) estimates sea
surface temperature and detect high temperature events (fires
and volcanic eruptions). The High Sensitivity Camera (HSC)
generates night images (very useful for fishery activity
monitoring in the sea, studying of electrical storms, polar
auroras and urban application). The DCS (Data Collection
System, from CONAE) can receive meteorological and
environmental data from ground platforms and distribute among
users. The TDP (Technological Demonstration Package, from
CONAE) measures different parameters of satellite position and
velocity.
IN S TR UM E NT
O B JE C TIV E S
S P E CI FIC AT IO N S
R E SO LUT IO N
AG E NC Y
A q u ar iu s
U nd ers ta ndin g oc ean c irc ulation ,
In te grated L- Ba nd radi om et er
T hree b eam s :7 6 x 94,
NA SA
g loba l w at er c y cl e a nd
(1.413 G hz) a nd
8 4 x 120 , 96 x 1 56 k m
c lim ate interac t ion. Soi l m ois ture
sc atero m eter (1. 26 G hz )
MWR
M ic ro w ave
R ad iom eter
o ve r A rgen ti na
s w at h: 3 90 km
R ain rate, win ds s pe ed,
Ban ds : 23. 8 G h z V Po l. &
Six t een bea m s
s ea ic e c onc entration ,
36.5 G hz H a nd V Pol.
< 5 4 km
wa te r v ap our,
c loud liq uid w ater
Ba nd w idht : 0 .5 an d 1 G hz
H ot sp ot ev en ts ,
B ands : 4 , 11 y 1 2 u m
Sp ac e res olution : 350 m
CO N AE
s ea s urfac e tem p erature
In st an ta neou s s wa th 1 82 Km
in t em per at ure: 0 .5°C
C SA
m eas ur em ents
ex ten ded s w at h 1000 Km
sm a lles t bu rning d etec tab le area
P oint ing : ±30 °
2 00 m ²
Urb an ligh ts , e lec tr ic s to rm s,
Pan cro m ati c: 450- 610 nm
200 -300 m eter s
CO N AE
polar re gion s,
Sw ath: 1600 K m
CO N AE
CO N AE
S w ath : 38 0 k m
N IR S T
N ew I nfrar ed
S ens or T ec hnol ogy
H SC
Hi gh Sen si tiv ity
C am e ra
s no w c ov er
DCS
D ata Co llec ti on
S ys tem
C olle ctio n S ys t em of m eteoro logic al
and en vir onm en ta l d ata
4 01. 55 M hz u plink
2 c on tac ts pe r day
R O SA
Ra dio O c c ult at ion
S oun der f or A tm o sp here
D eterm ina tio n of atm os phe ric pr ofiles
on tem pe rature, p res s ure and
m ois t ure
G P S Oc c ultation T ec hniqu es
Ho riz : 30 0 K m V ert: 300 m
ASI
C A R M EN I
Effec ts of c os m ic ra diat ion
I: th ree Si detec t ors ,
I: 25 6 ch anne ls s pec t ra
C N ES
in e lec tro nic d ev ic es ,
Si/Li
S: Sens it iv ity: 0.5 u pa rt.
dis tributio n o f m ic ro-pa rt icl es
S: four M O S s ens ors
a t 10K km / s ec
P os it ion, vel oc ity and tim e
GPS r ec eiv er
P os it ion: 2 0m , v eloc ity :1m /s ec
in ertial ang ular v eloc ity
In ert ial U nit R ef ere nc e
A ngul ar Ra ndom W alk :
with 20 0 plat form s
ICA R E & S O D AD
an d sp ac e debri s
TD P
T ech n o lo g ical
D em os tra tio n Pac kag e
determ ina ti on
0.008 de g/s q rt h
Table 1: Main characteristics and applications of each instrument on board SAC-D/ AQUARIUS.
552
CO N AE
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XXXIX-B8, 2012
XXII ISPRS Congress, 25 August – 01 September 2012, Melbourne, Australia
climate. This work provides a review of the first year of data,
including the status of calibration and validation, other finding
and at the same time we want to present the progress in the
active educational and outreach program including the
information of SAC-D Aquarius Mission.
4. CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate the performance of the satellite and
its sensors. At present we are working on the calibration of the
instruments and validation of the data.
The International Science Team of this mission are using and
applying the data around the world. More than 40 groups from
US, Argentina, Italy, Japan, Brasil, Chile are part of the
international team, and the exchange among them is very rich.
This is the beginning. In the case of Argentine Projects (15),
they are supported for the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Productive Innovation.
The activities in education and public outreach are other
important point in the Mission, a lot of material was prepared
for the web site, for hardcopies and digital format.
2. GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS AND APPLICATIONS OF
THE SENSORS
The Table 1 summarizes the general characteristics of each
instrument on board SAC-D Aquarius satellite, and their main
applications related to ocean, climate and environment.
3. FIRST RESULTS
The following figures (1,2,3,4,5,6) show the first science data
obtained from SAC-D Aquarius Observatory. These are some
examples, now we are working on the calibration of each
instruments and the validation of the data in order to improve
the quality of data and products for end users.
Many academic and scientific teams around the world are
developing new algorithms and products. Some of these data
can be downloaded from NASA and CONAE web site.
5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors thank to the NASA, CONAE and all the institutions
who are participated in this big project.
Figure. 1: First Global Sea Surface Salinity Map (NASA) from Aquarius.
Figure 2: Global Water Vapour Map from MWR.
Figure 3: Global Rain Rate Map from MWR.
553
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XXXIX-B8, 2012
XXII ISPRS Congress, 25 August – 01 September 2012, Melbourne, Australia
Figure. 4: Global Wind Speed Map from MWR.
Figure 5: Sea Ice Concentration in Antartica from MWR.
i d
d
Figure 7: Fire detected by HSC in Arauco Gulf (Chile).
Figure 6: Non calibrated image of Mesopotamia
Sector (Argentina), from NIRST .(11 μm).
Revised May 2012
554