UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
 
•AMSU-B (5 channels at 16 km resolution)
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Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B) is a 5 channel microwave radiometer.
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• The purpose of the instrument is to receive and measure radiation from a number of different layers of the atmosphere in order to obtain global data on humidity profiles.
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• It works with the AMSU-A to provide a 20 channel microwave radiometer.
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• AMSU-B covers channels 16 through 20.
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• The highest channels: 18, 19 and 20, span the strongly opaque water vapor absorption line at 183 GHz and provide data on the atmosphere's humidity level.
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• Channels 16 and 17, at 89 GHz and 150 GHz, respectively, enable deeper penetration through the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.