The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR): A new view of the Cryosphere

This presentation describes the Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) Sentinel expansion mission. The mission is designed to provide measurement evidence in support of developing, implementing, and monitoring the impact of the European Integrated Policy for the Arctic. Since changes in the Polar regions have profound impacts globally, CIMR will provide a new view of the cryosphere using a suite of unique low-frequency, yet high spatial resolution, microwave radiometer measurements over the high latitudes and the entire global domain. Products will be provided within 3 hours of sensing and for specific operational activities, within 1 hour over specific regions. CIMR will serve users in the Copernicus Ocean, Land and Climate Services fueling down-stream cryosphere applications. The primary instrument is a conically scanning low-frequency, high spatial resolution multi-channel microwave radiometer. A dawn-dusk orbit and large swath width of ~2000 km ensures 95% global coverage each day with a single satellite. Channels centred at L-, C-, X-, Ku- and Ka-band are fully polarised with effective spatial resolution of ≤60 km, ≤15km, ≤5 km and <5 km (goal:4km) respectively. On-board processing provides robustness against radio frequency interference and enables the computation of modified 3rd and 4th Stokes parameters for all channels. This paper reviews the CIMR mission, anticipated performances and the expected Level-2 products that will be provided including sea ice concentration, sea surface temperature, thin sea ice thickness, sea surface salinity and wind speed over the ocean amongst others . In addition, synergies with other Copernicus missions, notably the CRISTAL mission, will be highlighted for cryosphere applications.