SeaWinds scatterometer on QuikSCAT mission and the emerging land and ocean applications

Wu-Yang Tsai; Son V. Nghiem; Jakob J. Vanzyl

doi:10.1117/12.410586

21 December 2000 SeaWinds scatterometer on QuikSCAT mission and the emerging land and ocean applications

Wu-Yang Tsai, Son V. Nghiem, Jakob J. Vanzyl

Proceedings Volume 4152, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment II; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410586
Event: Second International Asia-Pacific Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Environment, and Space, 2000, Sendai, Japan

Abstract

Spaceborne scatterometers are active microwave radar instruments designed to acquire near-simultaneous, spatially collocated measurements of the normalized radar backscattering cross section (sigma0) of the global surface from several azimuth and/or incidence angles. The primary objective of the scatterometer mission is to measure the near-surface wind speed and direction over the global ocean using sigma0 measurements together with a wind geophysical model function. However, since sigma0 measurements are collected globally all the time, sigma0 data can also be used for global land and ice applications. In this paper, we will first present the objectives of the QSCAT mission, the instrument design, and the unique features of the Ku- band scatterometer currently in operation, called SeaWinds on QuikSCAT (QSCAT). We will then present some emerging land and ocean applications of the QSCAT data, which include (1) global snow detection and monitoring, (2) melt region mapping on the Greenland ice sheet, (3) Monsoon flood detection and monitoring, (4) soil wetness application at large scale, and (5) hurricane monitoring and tracking.

Citation Download Citation

Wu-Yang Tsai, Son V. Nghiem, and Jakob J. Vanzyl "SeaWinds scatterometer on QuikSCAT mission and the emerging land and ocean applications", Proc. SPIE 4152, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment II, (21 December 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410586

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