Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS)
The Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) provides sounding observations necessary to retrieve atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles for civilian operational weather forecasting, as well as continuity of these measurements for climate monitoring. In addition to temperature and moisture profiles, some of ATMS-derived products include integrated water vapor content, cloud liquid water content, precipitation rate, snow cover and sea ice concentration.
As the newest-generation microwave sensor, ATMS will provide atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles similar to the current-generation sensor, the Advanced Microwave Sounder Unit, but with improved spatial resolution, sampling rate, increased earth surface coverage and additional channels spanning the frequency band from 23.8 GHz to 183.3 GHz.
For more than 35 years Northrop Grumman has built microwave sensors for aiding weather forecasters with their predictions. ATMS represents the next generation of civil space instruments and will be flying on operational weather satellites for many years to come.
ATMS is part of the NPOESS Preparatory Mission.