Title :
SeaWinds-a new spaceborne radar for measuring ocean wind vectors
Author :
Smith, M.C. ; Crowley, R.D. ; Roeder, R.S.
Author_Institution :
ECI Div., E-Syst. Inc., St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Abstract :
SeaWinds is a new spaceborne Ku-band scatterometer that will provide accurate, continuous measurements of global ocean wind vectors. The instrument will fly on the Japanese Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS-II). SeaWinds is a pulsed 110 watt, 13.402 GHz radar with a conical scanned antenna providing an ocean swath of 1800 km. Seawinds has many advantages over preceding spaceborne scatterometers. The major subsystems and electrical characteristics are discussed, and the ground support equipment required to verify the flight hardware performance and calibration prior to launch is covered. Examples of previous NASA scatterometer ocean wind vector maps are included
Keywords :
Doppler radar; artificial satellites; atmospheric boundary layer; atmospheric measuring apparatus; ground support equipment; meteorological radar; radar cross-sections; remote sensing by radar; spaceborne radar; wind; 110 W; 13.402 GHz; 1800 km; ADEOS-II; Advanced Earth Observing Satellite; Japan; NASA; SHF; calibration; conical scanned antenna; electrical characteristics; flight hardware performance verification; global ocean wind vectors; ground support equipment; ocean swath; ocean wind vector measurement; radar; scatterometer ocean wind vector maps; spaceborne Ku-band scatterometer; spaceborne scatterometers; subsystems; Antenna measurements; Earth; Electric variables; Instruments; Oceans; Radar antennas; Radar measurements; Satellites; Sea measurements; Spaceborne radar;
Conference_Titel :
Southeastcon '96. Bringing Together Education, Science and Technology., Proceedings of the IEEE
Conference_Location :
Tampa, FL
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3088-9
DOI :
10.1109/SECON.1996.510070
