MIRAS - A 2-DIMENSIONAL APERTURE SYNTHESIS RADIOMETER FOR SOIL-MOISTURE AND OCEAN-SALINITY OBSERVATIONS/

Since 1993 ESA has been conducting several feasibility studies and bre adboarding activities for the development of a 'Microwave Imaging Radi ometer with Aperture Synthesis', known as MIRAS. This Earth-observatio n instrument is intended particularly for the measurement of soil mois ture and ocean salinity on a global scale. The relevance of these two geophysical parameters has been repeatedly emphasised by the scientifi c community and MIRAS could eventually form the core of an ESA Earth E xplorer mission devoted to the global measurement of these two paramet ers.