Channels
AMSU is actually composed of two instruments: AMSU-A, with 15 channels, and AMSU-B, with 5. The following table compares the channelization of AMSU with other microwave instruments.
Microwave Frequencies (GHz) and Polarizations
| Channel | SSM/T | MSU | AMSU-A | AMSU-B | SSM/I | SSM/T-2 |
| 1 | 50.5H | 50.30R | 23.8R | 89.0R | 19.35H | 183.3±3R |
| 2 | 53.2H | 53.74R | 31.4R | 150.0R | 19.35V | 183.3±1R |
| 3 | 54.35H | 54.96R | 50.3R | 183.3±1R | 22.235V | 183.3±7R |
| 4 | 54.9H | 57.95R | 52.8R | 183.3±3R | 37.0H | 91.7R |
| 5 | 58.4V | | 53.6R | 183.3±7R | 37.0V | 150R |
| 6 | 58.825V | | 54.4R | | 85.5H |
| 7 | 59.4V | | 54.9R | | 85.5V |
| 8 | | | 55.5R |
| 9 | | | 57.2R |
| 10 | | | 57.29±.217R |
| 11 | | | 57.29±.322±.048R |
| 12 | | | 57.29±.322±.022R |
| 13 | | | 57.29±.322±.010R |
| 14 | | | 57.29±.322±.0045R |
| 15 | | | 89.0R |
Notation: x±y±z; x is the center frequency. If y appears, the center frequency is not sensed, but two bands, one on either side of the center frequency, are sensed; y is the distance from the center frequency to the center of the two pass bands. If z appears, it is the width of the two pass bands. This pattern is easily implemented with radio frequency receivers, and it effectively doubles the signal (two pass bands instead of one).
Polarization: V = vertical, H = horizontal, R = rotates with scan angle.
Source: Kidder and Vonder Haar (1995)
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