Sigma-0 retrieval from SeaWinds on QuikScat

Ivan S. Ashcraft; David G. Long; Arden Anderson; Steve L. Richards; Mike Spencer; Brian Jones

doi:10.1117/12.363511

24 September 1999 σ retrieval from SeaWinds on QuikScat

Ivan S. Ashcraft, David G. Long, Arden Anderson, Steve L. Richards, Mike Spencer, Brian Jones

Proceedings Volume 3750, Earth Observing Systems IV; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.363511
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1999, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

NASA has developed a new scatterometer, SeaWinds, which is scheduled to be launched on two missions, one in 1999 and the other in 2000. SeaWinds will measure the speed and direction of near-surface winds over the ocean. A fundamental part of the processing of SeaWinds data is the computation of (sigma) degree which includes solving the radar equation for every pulse sent and received by the scatterometer. However, for SeaWinds, this calculation is too computationally intensive to perform in real tie. Instead, a method of tabularizing most of the calculation has been developed. This method includes corrections for attitude and orbit perturbations and accounts for the elevation of the local topography. It also includes a table which will be used to assist ground data processing in determining the locations of the measurements. Tests comparing the tabulated result with the actual numerical calculations have shown that using this table is accurate to within +/- 0.1 dB and gives locations that are accurate to within 160 meters. We provide a description of this algorithm. The innovations developed as part of this algorithm may be of interest in processing data from other remote sensing systems.

Citation Download Citation

Ivan S. Ashcraft, David G. Long, Arden Anderson, Steve L. Richards, Mike Spencer, and Brian Jones "σ retrieval from SeaWinds on QuikScat", Proc. SPIE 3750, Earth Observing Systems IV, (24 September 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.363511

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available