What is the advantage of microwave over traditional satellite observations?
A2. Microwaves penetrate, that is why we use them to cook food from the inside out, and can communicate using microwave on our cell phones inside buildings. Natural microwave radiation coming out of the earth serves as the signal received by the SSM/I satellite sensor. These signals penetrate through most clouds, providing a clean signal from the earth’s surface. We see surface conditions under almost all types of weather. In contrast, it frequently takes traditional satellites a week to obtain a clear view, while microwave satellites are constantly providing updated measurements.
