ASCAT
MetOp
European Space Agency

ASCAT products


 
ASCAT data products
 
Winds over the sea cause disturbances of the sea surface that modif its radar backscattering characteristics in a particular way. These backscattering properties are well known and are dependent on both the wind speed over the sea adn the direction of the wind iwth respect to the point from which the sea surface is observed. ASCAT uses radar to measure these backscatter coefficients. ASCAT products will provide two swaths of wind vectors simultaneously at a resolution of 50 km and, on an experimental basis at 25 km resolution.


  
 
Cyclone Sam
 
Cyclone Sam
 
 
The graphic shows a typical swath from the European Remote Sensing satellite
(ERS-2) scatterometer. It shows Cyclone Sam off the northern coast of Australia on 4 December 2000.
 
 
 Some other uses for the scatterometer

Besides their conventional use in wind vector determination, scatterometers also have roles in land and ice applications of remote sensing; the two examples below typify these applications.
  
 
Map of the plant-available-water for Africa for the month Januar
 
Map of the plant-available-water for Africa for the month January
 
 
Land applications

The graphic shows a map of the plant-available-water for Africa for the month of January. Blue and brown areas indicate high and low water concentrations respectively.
 
 
Large iceberg discovered to be adrift in the Drake Passage
 
Large iceberg discovered to be adrift in the Drake Passage
 
 
Ice monitoring
The graphic shows a large iceberg discovered to be adrift in the Drake passage (between Antarctica and Tierra del Fuego).
 
 
  
Last update: 30 June 2006


In depth

 •  About ASCAT (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMBWEG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  Scanning principle (http://www.esa.int/esaME/ESAPUNUTYWC_ascat_0.html)
 •  Instrument design drivers (http://www.esa.int/esaME/ESAVWNUTYWC_ascat_0.html)
 •  Calculation wind speed and direction (http://www.esa.int/esaME/ESAEONUTYWC_ascat_0.html)
 •  Description (http://www.esa.int/esaME/ESAXWMUTYWC_ascat_0.html)
 •  Functional elements (http://www.esa.int/esaME/ESA86TVTYWC_ascat_0.html)
 •  Performance (http://www.esa.int/esaME/ESA40NUTYWC_ascat_0.html)
 •  Calibration (http://www.esa.int/esaME/ESAX0NUTYWC_ascat_0.html)
 •  Ground Processor Prototype (http://www.esa.int/esaME/ESANZMUTYWC_ascat_0.html)

Related articles

 •  Measuring wind over the oceans with ASCAT (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEM7GAA6CPE_LPmetop_0.html)

Related links

 •  KNMI scatterometer (http://www.knmi.nl/scatterometer)
 •  Cyclone tracking (http://earth.esa.int/pcs/ers/cyclones/)
 •  Global soil moisture archive (http://www.ipf.tuwien.ac.at/radar/ers-scat/home.htm)
 •  NASA SCP (http://scp.grc.nasa.gov/)
 •  IFARS (http://www.ifars.de/eolas/scatapps.htm)
 •  NIC (http://www.natice.noaa.gov)
 •  NESDIS (http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/)
 •  DNMI (http://www.dnmi.no/english/)

MetOp's instruments

 •  A/DCS (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEM3JGG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  AMSU-A1 (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMAHGG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  AMSU-A2 (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMIFGG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  ASCAT (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMBWEG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  AVHRR (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEM9VEG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  GOME-2 (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMTTEG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  GRAS (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMTSEG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  HIRS (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMUREG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  IASI (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMNQEG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  MHS (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEM7ADG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  SARP-3 (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMV4DG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  SARR (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMU2DG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)
 •  SEM (http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMD1DG23IE_LPmetop_0.html)