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Sensor Suite
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The DMSP Block 5D2 satellite sensors include the terrestrial sensors: OL-S, SSMT-1, SSMT-2, SSMI, and the Space Environment Sensors (SES): SSIES, SSJ-4, SSBX, SSM, SSZF. The OL-S is the primary imagery sensor and all other sensors are referred to as "special sensors (SS)". On DMSP 5D3 satellites, the three microwave sensors, SSMT-1, SSMT-2, SSMI are replaced by the SSMIS, and two additional SES sensors have been added, the SSULI and SSUSI. DMSP sensor data are processed on the ground by users into environmental data records. The Operational Linescan System (OLS) is the primary sensor for DMSP. The visible and infrared imaging data are used to provide information on cloud cover, snow cover, sea ice, sea and land surface temperature. DMSP Microwave Sensors provide both imaging and sounding data. Microwave imaging data provides information on sea surface winds, rain rate, moisture-laden clouds, soil moisture, ice edge/age/concentration, and severe storm features such as typhoon extent, intensity, location, and movement. The microwave sounder data is used to determine vertical temperature and moisture profiles. The Space Environmental Sensor Suite (SESS) records along track plasma densities, velocities, composition and drifts, and beginning with F-16, also remotely senses ionospheric and neutral atmospheric parameters. |
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Sensor Differentiation
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 OLS and SSMIS sensors operate from the Troposphere to the Mesosphere (0-80 km). All other sensors operate in the Ionosphere (80km-600km). |
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