@article{PAR00005763, title = {{T}he {SMOS} mission : new tool for monitoring key elements of the global water cycle}, author = {{K}err, {Y}ann and {W}aldteufel, {P}. and {W}igneron, {J}. {P}. and {D}elwart, {S}. and {C}abot, {F}. and {B}outin, {J}. and {E}scorihuela, {M}. {J}. and {F}ont, {J}. and {R}eul, {N}. and {G}ruhier, {C}. and {J}uglea, {S}. {E}. and {D}rinkwater, {M}. {R}. and {H}ahne, {A}. and {M}artin-{N}eira, {M}. and {M}ecklenburg, {S}.}, editor = {}, language = {{ENG}}, abstract = {{I}t is now well understood that data on soil moisture and sea surface salinity ({SSS}) are required to improve meteorological and climate predictions. {T}hese two quantities are not yet available globally or with adequate temporal or spatial sampling. {I}t is recognized that a spaceborne {L}-band radiometer with a suitable antenna is the most promising way of fulfilling this gap. {W}ith these scientific objectives and technical solution at the heart of a proposed mission concept the {E}uropean {S}pace {A}gency ({ESA}) selected the {S}oil {M}oisture and {O}cean {S}alinity ({SMOS}) mission as its second {E}arth {E}xplorer {O}pportunity {M}ission. {T}he development of the {SMOS} mission was led by {ESA} in collaboration with the {C}entre {N}ational d'{E}tudes {S}patiales ({CNES}) in {F}rance and the {C}entro para el {D}esarrollo {T}ecnologico {I}ndustrial ({CDTI}) in {S}pain. {SMOS} carries a single payload, an {L}-{B}and 2-{D} interferometric radiometer operating in the 1400-1427-{MH}z protected band [1]. {T}he instrument receives the radiation emitted from {E}arth's surface, which can then be related to the moisture content in the first few centimeters of soil over land, and to salinity in the surface waters of the oceans. {SMOS} will achieve an unprecedented maximum spatial resolution of 50 km at {L}-band over land (43 km on average over the field of view), providing multiangular dual polarized (or fully polarized) brightness temperatures over the globe. {SMOS} has a revisit time of less than 3 days so as to retrieve soil moisture and ocean salinity data, meeting the mission's science objectives. {T}he caveat in relation to its sampling requirements is that {SMOS} will have a somewhat reduced sensitivity when compared to conventional radiometers. {T}he {SMOS} satellite was launched successfully on {N}ovember 2, 2009.}, keywords = {{I}nterferometry ; {L}-band ; sea surface salinity ({SSS}) ; soil moisture ; {S}oil ; {M}oisture and {O}cean {S}alinity ({SMOS}) ; vegetation water content}, booktitle = {}, journal = {{P}roceedings of the {I}eee}, volume = {98}, numero = {5}, pages = {666--687}, ISSN = {0018-9219}, year = {2010}, DOI = {10.1109/jproc.2010.2043032}, URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00005763}, }