The SSM/I and SSMIS satellites are operated by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and are part of NASA's Pathfinder Program. The instrumentation has been flown on a number of satellites: F-8 (1987), F-10 (November 1990), F-11 (December 1991), F-12 (August 1994), F-13 (March 1995), F-14 (April 1997) and F-15 (January 2000). Instrument failures have occurred. The SSM/I instrumentation was replaced by the SSMIS on satellites F-16 (November 2005), F-17 (March 2008) and F-18 (March 2010). Satellite failures have occurred and, until recently, there has been little impact on the suite of hydrological products. The SSMIS data have been carefully intercalibrated on the brightness temperature level with the previous SSM/I and therefore extend this important time series of ocean winds, vapor, cloud and rain values.
National Center for Atmospheric Research Staff (Eds). Last modified 01 Mar 2016. "The Climate Data Guide: SSM/I, SSMIS: Special Sensor Microwave/Imager and Sounder." Retrieved from https://climatedataguide.ucar.edu/climate-data/ssmi-ssmis-special-sensor-microwaveimager-and-sounder.
Funding: NSF | National Science Foundation
Based at: NCAR | National Center for Atmospheric Research
A Project of: Climate Analysis Section in Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory
Created by: Climate Data Guide PIs and Staff
