Articles | Volume 19, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4141-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-19-4141-2026
Research article
 | 
25 Jun 2026
Research article |  | 25 Jun 2026

Assessment of the RFI environment in key passive microwave bands for Earth observation

Raul Onrubia, Roger Oliva, David Duncan, Niels Bormann, Jose Barbosa, Ioannis Nestoras, Adriano Jordão, Flavio Jorge, Juliette Challot, and Yan Soldo

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Cited articles

Auligné, T., McNally, A., and Dee, D.: Adaptive bias correction for satellite data in a numerical weather prediction system, Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 133, 631–642, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.56, 2007. a
Benazzouz, A., Mordane, S., Orbi, A., Chagdali, M., Hilmi, K., Atillah, A., Lluís Pelegrí, J., and Hervé, D.: An improved coastal upwelling index from sea surface temperature using satellite-based approach – The case of the Canary Current upwelling system, Continental Shelf Research, 81, 38–54, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2014.03.012, 2014. a
Bringer, A., Daehn, M., Johnson, J. T., Soldo, Y., Le Vine, D. M., de Matthaeis, P., Piepmeier, J. R., and Mohammed, P.: SMAP Mission: Changes in the RFI Environment, IEEE, 3754–3757, https://doi.org/10.1109/igarss.2018.8519067, 2018. a
Brown, S. and Morris, M.: Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer (COWVR) Environmental Data Record (EDR) Quick-start User's Guide, Jet Propoulsion Laboratory (JPL) from California Institute of Technology (CALTECH), Pasadena, CA, version 1.02, https://archive.podaac.earthdata.nasa.gov/podaac-ops-cumulus-docs/cowvr-tempest/open/docs/STP_H8_COWVR_User-Guide_v6.pdf (last access: 22 June 2026), 2024. a, b, c
Capone, D. G. and Hutchins, D. A.: Microbial biogeochemistry of coastal upwelling regimes in a changing ocean, Nat. Geosci., 6, 711–717, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo1916, 2013. a
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Short summary
We studied how common unwanted man-made radio frequency interferes affect Earth observation (EO) satellites used for weather and climate studies. We scanned frequencies from 6 to 200 GHz in 2022. We found strong interference at lower ranges, including first signs at 23.8 and 36.5 gigahertz, while higher ranges were mostly clean. These results highlight the need for real-time monitoring, stronger protection from authorities, and on-board and on-ground mitigation systems in EO missions.
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