Surface Based Radiometer (SBR) data acquisition system

Since 1981, the Canadian Ice Service (CIS) has been conducting research into the use of microwave radiometers for the detection and monitoring of sea ice. The CIS has developed a Surface Based Radiometer (SBR) System which includes three dual polarized microwave radiometers (at 19, 37 and 85 GHz). This remote sensing platform is truly mobile and has been deployed both on the ground and onboard icebreakers. It can be accessed and fully controlled remotely over a telephone line, through the Internet (TCP/IP) or via a wireless LAN connection using a data radio link. The focus of this paper is on the engineering, design and operation of the SBR system including some of the current applications of the system. In particular, the remote access, control, and near real-time data processing functions will be described.