The Passive Microwave Imager Brightness Temperature (BT) Climate Data Record (CDR) uses window-channels from a series of 10 microwave radiometers flown on board the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite series. The six Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) instruments, first flown on DMSP F08 in July 1987, provide inter-calibrated data, along with data from subsequent four Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMI/S) instruments. Because SSMI/S instruments have exceeded their operational lifetime, Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) brightness temperatures with the same calibration have been added to the record starting with July 2012. This fundamental CDR provides data for a number of thematic CDR products including precipitation, sea surface wind speed, sea ice extent, snow cover, cloud liquid water, and total precipitable water content. The full record extends from 1987–present.
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