MICAP (Microwave imager combined active and passive): A new instrument for Chinese ocean salinity satellite

Sea surface salinity (SSS) plays an important role in global water cycle. In recent years, satellite based remote sensing has proven to be a promising approach for global SSS observation. A new payload concept, named MICAP (microwave imager combined active and passive), has been introduced in this paper. MICAP is a suit of active/passive instrument package, which includes L/C/K band one-dimensional MIR (microwave interferometric radiometer) and L-band DBF (digital beamforming) scatterometer, sharing a parabolic cylinder reflector. MICAP has been selected to be a candidate payload for future Chinese ocean salinity mission. In this paper, the MICAP instrument concept, specification and preliminary system design will be introduced.