An ultra-lightweight L-band digital Lobe-Differencing Correlation Radiometer (LDCR) for airborne UAV SSS mapping

One of the most critical of environmental parameters yet to be adequately measured is sea surface salinity, which impacts major ocean circulation and a number of biological oceanic processes. We discuss here the design of a new digital radiometer system to address the issues surrounding the accurate mapping of sea surface brightness temperatures at L-band with high spatial and temporal resolution, and suitable for deployment on small long endurance UAVs. The lobe-differencing correlation radiometer employs a highly stable design and digital processing using demonstrated techniques for anthropogenic radio frequency interference mitigation.