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Instrument

MBARS
Microwave Barometric Radar and Sounder

The Microwave Barometric Radar and Sounder (MBARS) is an airborne sensor developed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Langley Research Center (LaRC), and Tomorrow.io. It is a combined active and passive microwave sensor used to measure surface air pressure in the oxygen absorption V-band (64-70 GHz). It includes a cross-track scanning differential absorption radar (DAR) to estimate total atmospheric oxygen content and determine surface dry air pressure. It also provides hyperspectral radiometric temperature profiles to enable vertical pressure profiles. It has a horizontal resolution of 1 to 4 km and a swath of 10 km at flight altitudes of the ER-2 aircraft.

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Instrument Details

Multi
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Pressure > Surface Pressure
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Upper Air Temperature > Vertical Profiles
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar > Radar Reflectivity
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar
Full Column Profile
N/A
1-4 km
64-70 GHz
Currently unavailble
  • Matt Walker McLinden

  • Matt Walker McLinden

  • GSFC, LaRC, Tomorrow.io

  • NASA

  • Currently unavailable