# Passive Microwave Imagers, Their Applications, and Benefits: A Review
## 5 Conclusions  
This review highlights the diverse applications of PMWI data, rather than focusing on the technical methodologies or processing algorithms. PMWIs have demonstrated critical value in various domains, particularly NWP, hurricane tracking, precipitation, cryosphere and soil moisture monitoring, ocean surface wind measurements, and drought assessment. For example, their ability to provide accurate and timely data enhances hurricane forecasts, leading to improved early warning systems. This mitigates damage to infrastructure and aids in the preservation of human lives, translating to substantial benefits to society. The high regard in which expert users and the general public hold PMWI data was evident through the conducted survey. However, it also uncovered key limitations to address for improved effectiveness of PMWIs. Issues such as temporal coverage, data latency, and resolution are significant challenges that impact the utility of PMWI data in real-time applications. Other challenges include that currently a considerable amount of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is observed in lower-frequency bands used in the AMSR2, SMOS, and SMAP instruments [3], which affects the efficacy of the sensors. [PERSON] et al. also indicated that the development of new technologies (i.e., 5G) will increase RFI in higher microwave bands. Therefore, to ensure the quality of microwave instruments and the accuracy and timeliness of data, it is important to protect key microwave bands [3; 70]. Increasing the number of satellites to ensure more frequent global coverage, reducing data latency to enhance real-time application utility, and improving the resolution and swath sizes of PMWIs are essential steps forward. Furthermore, this review highlights the need for continuous innovation and collaboration among key organizations such as NOAA,NASA, JAXA, and EUMETSAT. By leveraging these organizations' combined expertise and resources, the development and deployment of next-generation PMWI technology can be accelerated, leading to more robust and reliable environmental monitoring systems. Throughout this review, several challenges were encountered that hindered a more comprehensive understanding of the impacts and benefits of PMWI data and their applications. First was the shortage of studies that discuss the impact of PMWIs. Although there is a plethora of papers discussing the applications of these sensors, none specifically discusses their societal value. An additional challenge directly linked to the first one is the lack of data about the value of PMWIs. A further obstacle was that quantifying the impacts of PMWIs can be complicated due to their indirect relationship with PMWIs, as it can be difficult to link improved weather forecasts only with PMWI sensors. Furthermore, the impact can be linked to long-term improvements instead of being immediate and measurable. The last challenge faced during the review was the limited number of responses to the survey. Overall, the value of PMWIs to society is undeniable. Their contributions to weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster management are critical in safeguarding communities and supporting informed decision-making. As we move forward, addressing the identified limitations and investing in technological advancements will be essential to unlocking the full potential of PMWIs. This review serves as a call to action for stakeholders to prioritize enhancing PMWI capabilities, ensuring that these invaluable tools continue to play a pivotal role in understanding and managing Earth's dynamic environment. Conceptualization, K.H., P.N., S.K., R.R.F. and S.S.; methodology, N.R., M.B.Z., C.J.A. and V.A.G. ; formal analysis, N.R., M.B.Z., C.J.A. and V.A.G. ; investigation, K.H., N.R., M.B.Z., C.J.A. and V.A.G. ; resources, K.H., S.K., S.S. and P.N. ; data curation, N.R., M.B.Z. and C.J.A. ; writing--original draft preparation, N.R., M.B.Z., C.J.A. and V.A.G. ; writing--review and editing, K.H., S.K., S.S., R.R.F. and H.M.; visualization, N.R., M.B.Z. and C.J.A.