17 July 2019 Space of solutions to ocean surface wind measurement using scatterometer constellations
Patrick Walton, David Long
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Satellite wind vector data are integral to atmospheric models and forecasts, but current measurement limitations make some synoptic, mesoscale activities difficult to observe. Using miniaturized electronics and advanced deployable mechanisms, new satellite wind scatterometers may be possible that increase spatial, temporal, and wind resolution and coverage. We propose a simple parametric model of the space of satellite wind scatterometer designs, their performances, and the transformation between design and performance, together called a solution space model. We explore two applications of this model: understanding how advances have expanded the design space and searching for alternative approaches to satellite wind scatterometry. Recent advances enable a greater capability-to-volume ratio, which enables constellations of small, low-cost scatterometers that co-operate in a variety of modes. We present two example concepts for constellations of co-operative satellite wind scatterometers. We estimate that a constellation of CubeSat scatterometers may affordably measure global ocean vector winds every three hours.

© 2019 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) 1931-3195/2019/$28.00 © 2019 SPIE
Patrick Walton and David Long "Space of solutions to ocean surface wind measurement using scatterometer constellations," Journal of Applied Remote Sensing 13(3), 032506 (17 July 2019). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JRS.13.032506
Received: 31 March 2019; Accepted: 19 June 2019; Published: 17 July 2019
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Cited by 1 scholarly publication.
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KEYWORDS
Satellites

Wind measurement

Antennas

Radar

Spatial resolution

Scatterometry

Fluctuations and noise

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