Recognizing the evolving needs of the community, Jena-Optronik developed an imaging radiometer. The important objective is the flexibility to adapt to user requirements. Core parameters like ground sampling distance, number and width of spectral channels, SNR, polarisation control and calibration facilities can be chosen in a wide range without changing the basic instrument configuration. METimage was defined in a study co-financed by DLR. Key hardware is being developed.

 

Core item of the instrument is a rotating telescope scanner to cover the large swath width which all polar platforms need for global coverage. The derotated image facilitates use of in-field spectral channel separation, which allows to taylor individual channel GSD (ground sampling distance) and features like TDI (time delay and integration). State-of-the-art detector arrays and read-out electronics can easily be employed. The reflecting telescope design can be expected to support even demanding upcoming requirements on image quality and ground resolution.

 

METimage is supported by the German Aerospace Center DLR with funds of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

METimage is a multi-spectral imaging radiometer with large swath width (2300 km for global coverage) and a GSD < 1 km. It covers all spectral channels from VIS to TIR in separate FPAs, has a large flexibility regarding the number of channels and large flexibility regarding radiometric sensitivity.

It accomplishes the user requirements for measurements of physical parameters in the atmosphere, of the sea surface and of the land surface to assess meteorologically relevant states.