TU2.L10 - THE AQUARIUS/SAC-D MISSION OVERVIEW

The Aquarius/SAC-D Mission Overview

Gary Lagerloef, ESRSandra Torrusio, CONAEDavid LeVine, NASA GSFCMonica Rabolli, CONAE

2 of XXAquarius SAC-D Overview. G. Lagerloef, S.Torrusio, D. Le Vine & M. Rabolli IGARSS-Honolulu-Hawaii-2010

Understanding the Interactions Between the Ocean Circulation, Global Water Cycle and Climate by Measuring Sea Surface Salinity

Salinity Mission Science

WOA 2001 NOAA/NODC

Equation of State for SeaWater

sw (S,T) fw (T) b(T)S c(T)S3 / 2 dS2Global salinity patterns are linked to rainfall and evaporation

Salinity affects seawater density, which in turn governs ocean circulation and climate

The higher salinity of the Atlantic sustains the oceanic deep overturning circulation

Salinity variations are driven by precipitation, evaporation, runoff and ice freezing and melting


Mission Design and Sampling Strategy

• Global Coverage in 7 Days• 4 Repeat Cycles per Month

Sun-synchronous exact repeat orbit6pm ascending nodeAltitude 657 km

3 beams 390 km wide swath.

76 x 94 km 96 x 156 km

84 x 120 km

Beams point toward the night side to avoid sun glint

Salinity Data150km, Monthly, 0.2 (pss)Mission Requirement

In Orbit Checkout

Launch


SAC-C 2000 CONAE SAOCOM

CONAE

SMAP NASA

SMOS 2009 ESA

MMRS, HRTC, HSTC, DCS

GOLPE, MMPIST, INES

ICARE

Relation to Past and Future Missions

, DCS, HSC, CARMEN, ROSA,

NIRST, MWR

L-Band PassiveSoil MoistureOcean Salinity

L-Band Passive/ActiveOcean SalinitySoil Moisture (low resolution)2011

L-Band Passive/ActiveSoil Moisture (hi resolution)Ocean Salinity2013-2014

L-Band SARSoil Moisture2013-2014


• Aquarius Salinity Microwave Instrument

• Launch Vehicle

• Service Platform and SAC-D Science Instruments

• Mission Operations & Ground System

International Partnership between United States – Argentina

Aquarius/SAC-D Observatory


The Observatory Today

DCS

NIRST

Aquarius(primary instrument)

TDP

SAC-D S/P

CARMEN-1(ICARE-NG & SODAD) ROSA

HSC

MWRMicrowave Radiometer

Data Collection System

High Sensitivity Camera

Technology Demonstration Package

Service Platform

Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas-D

Near InfraRed Sensor Technology

Radio Occultation Sounder for the Atmosphere


Science Objectives of the Mission

Other important goal of this Observatory is:

To study the relationship between the different measurements performed by the Mission in the framework of:

• Oceanography • Coastal Environment• Climate-Atmosphere • Hydrology-Soil Moisture • Natural Resources and Environmental Monitoring• Emergencies (fires, volcanic eruptions, flooding)• Health

These issues are in perfect concordance with the National Space Programof CONAE which promotes the development of space technology and theuse of satellite information applied to the different social benefit areas mentioned.


Specific measurements

• Global sea surface salinity measurements (Aquarius).

• Soil moisture (Aquarius).

• Measurements of precipitable water, sea ice concentration and sea surface wind speed (which will enhance the results of Aquarius measurements) (Microwave Radiometer-MWR).

• Measurements of water vapor, cloud liquid water. (Microwave Radiometer-MWR).

• Monitoring of hot spots caused by biomass fires and volcanic eruptions, estimation of fire radiative power (NIRST).

• Measurements of sea surface temperature (which also will enhance the results of Aquarius measurements in pilot areas) (NIRST).


Specific measurements

• Measurements of light intensity (urban areas, detection of electric storms, snow coverage, sea surveillance and aurora studies) (HSC).

• Measurements of atmospheric temperature, pressure profiles, and water vapor content (ROSA).

• Measure the high energy radiation environment (ICARE).

• Measure the size distribution of micro- particles and space debris (SODAD).

• Collect environmental measured parameters (e.g. meteorological) (DCS)


Footprint 36.5GHz

Footprint 23.8GHz

Outer beam AquariusMiddle beam

Aquarius

Inner beam Aquarius

Footprints MWR & Aquarius

Geometry: Aquarius-MWR-NIRST

Footprints Aquarius, MWR & NIRST


Examples of MWR ApplicationsTotal Precipitable Water AMSU (Advanced Microwave

Sounder Unit) Product NOAA Satellite Sea Ice

Cloud Liquid Water

SSMI on DMSP - Surface Wind Speed


Examples of Optical/IR Applications

NIRST: High Temperatures Events (HTE) & SSTFires in Paraná Delta-Fall 2008

From MODIS Data

From SAC-C Data

Volcanic Eruption: El Chaiten (Chile-2008).

SST from NOAA data

-Fishery activities

-Characterization of Habitat for marine species

-Current studies....etc


Examples of Applications

Fires Detection

Urban Lights

HSC

Snow Coverage

Buenos Aires

Sea Surveillance


Examples of Applications

Data Collection System (DCS)

Join DCS, ROSA & Carmen

CARMEN:

Computer simulation of space debris distribution

ROSA:

Atmospheric Temperature Profile


Science Programe Status

• First Announcement of Opportunity (NASA & CONAE/MinCyT) selected an International Science Investigating Team for the Aquarius/SAC-D Observatory in September 2009.

• The projects selected are: 15 USA, 15 Argentina, 9 Italy, 1 Japan • Aquarius SAC-D Science Team Meetings

– Buenos Aires 21-23 October 2009– Seattle 19-21 July 2010.

• Phase 2 Ocean Salinity Science Team solicitation in NASA/ROSES 2010

• Phase 2 CONAE/MinCyT solicitation will be announced in 2011

SummaryA Foundation Mission for the Decadal Survey

Ocean Salinity

Aquarius: First Passive/Active L-band Sensor

Soil Moisture

Natural Hazards Space

EnvironmentSurface Wind, Rain & Sea Ice

April 2011


BACK UP Material


Aquarius SAC-D Instruments Overview


Mission Overview

Documents

TU2.L10 - THE AQUARIUS/SAC-D MISSION OVERVIEW