Evolution of high spatial resolution spaceborne scatterometers

Author

Brown, Ronald A. ; Roeder, Robert S.

Author_Institution

Raytheon E-Syst. St. Petersburg, FL, USA

fYear

1998

fDate

24-26 Apr 1998

Firstpage

260

Lastpage

263

Abstract

Satellite scatterometer (microwave radar) normalized radar backscatter measurements (σ⁰) can be used to infer near-surface ocean wind speed and direction. The feasibility of scatterometer wind speed remote sensing was first proven with RADSCAT on SKYLAB in 1973. The technique was refined with the Seasat scatterometer in 1978 and work in the early 1990s by European and US space agencies has provided the foundation for continuous, global wind vector measurements. This paper discusses the need for improved scatterometer spatial resolution and the design evolution for planned future high resolution spaceborne scatterometers

Keywords

atmospheric boundary layer; atmospheric measuring apparatus; backscatter; electromagnetic wave scattering; ocean waves; remote sensing by radar; signal resolution; spaceborne radar; wind; European space agency; RADSCAT; SKYLAB; SeaWinds; Seasat scatterometer; US space agency; global wind vector measurements; high spatial resolution spaceborne scatterometers; microwave radar; near-surface ocean wind speed; normalized radar backscatter measurements; remote sensing; satellite scatterometer; wind direction; Backscatter; Microwave measurements; Radar measurements; Radar remote sensing; Radar scattering; Satellites; Sea measurements; Spaceborne radar; Spatial resolution; Wind speed;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Southeastcon '98. Proceedings. IEEE

Conference_Location

Orlando, FL

Print_ISBN

0-7803-4391-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/SECON.1998.673344

Filename

673344