Calibration tower, Antarctica

A microwave radiometer positioned on a tower in one of the harshest environments on Earth has helped to ensure the data delivered by ESA’s SMOS mission are accurate. Over the last two years the Radomex instrument has been continuously collecting microwave signals emitted from the snow and ice below the tower. The data from this measurement campaign, called DOMEX, are being used to calibrate the microwave radiometer carried on the SMOS satellite.