Microwave remote sensing is successfully being used for monitoring numerous
parameters of the Earth. Ocean and snow surfaces. Large volume of active and
passive microwave remote sensing data over the globe is now available and is
being used by the international scientists for deducing various surface and
atmospheric parameters. In India, the use of such valuable data are very much
limited. The Indian Space Research Organization is planning to launch a microwave
satellite Oceansat with microwave radiometer. Looking at the potentiality of microwave
remote sensing data, an effort has been made to analyze Special Sensor Microwave
Imager (SSM/I) data sets for Indian subcontinent during 1987 to 1991. The SSM/I was
developed as a part of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and was
launched on board of the DMSP –F8 satellite, which measures the thermally emitted
radiation from the Earth surface and atmosphere at four frequencies 19, 22, 37, 85 GHz
with both horizontal and vertical polarizations except 22 GHz that works only for
vertical polarization. The brightness temperature data is analyzed seasonally, monthly
and weekly over Indian subcontinent to deduce various surface and atmospheric
parameters. Considering three main climatic seasons: winter, summer, and rainy,
brightness temperature maps have been prepared over Indian subcontinent. The
brightness temperature gives characteristic surface signature. The brightness
temperatures maps over Arabian Ocean and Bay of Bengal have been prepared.
Brightness temperature maps over oceanic region gives ocean surface condition,
which is affected by the prevailing monsoon. Time series analysis of areal extent
of snow and snow thickness over Himalayan region have been carried out during
Aug 1987 – Jul 1988. Total Precipitable Water (TPW) and Liquid Water path (LWP)
over Indian subcontinent have been calculated and corresponding maps have
been prepared. An attempt has also been made to explore the potentiality of SSM/I
brightness temperature data to study tropical cyclones.