Mission
The NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) was launched at 6:54 p.m. U.S. PDT, Friday, August 16, 1996 aboard the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS). The NSCAT mission ended prematurely due to a power loss aboard ADEOS on June 30, 1997. The launch itself was directed by the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan. Data retrieval, calibration and validation was carried out by the NSCAT project scientists at JPL/NASA in cooperation with NASDA. NSCAT transmits microwave pulses and receives backscattered power from the ocean surface, which is used to derive the normalized radar cross section (sigma-0). Using a calibrated model function, the sigma-0 is used to derive all-weather, high-resolution ocean surface wind vector measurements throughout the global oceans. NSCAT provided coverage at 90% of the global ice-free oceans every two days. |
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Related Publications
Dunbar, R.S., S.V. Hsiao, and B.H. Lambrigtsen, Science Algorithm Specifications for the NASA Scatterometer Project, JPL D-5610 (597-521), Vol. 1 (Sensor Algorithms) and Vol. 2 (Geophysical Algorithms). Issued May 1988, last updated November 1991.
Early, D.S. and D.G. Long, Feb 2001. "Image Reconstruction and Enhanced Resolution Imaging From Irregular Samples", IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 39, No.2, pp. 291-302.
Long, D.G. and M.R. Drinkwater, 1999. "Cryosphere Applications of NSCAT Data", IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 1671-1684.
Long, D.G., P. Hardin, and P. Whiting, 1993. "Resolution Enhancement of Spaceborne Scatterometer Data", IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 31, pp. 700-715.
Naderi, F.M., M.H. Freilich, and D.G. Long, "Spaceborne Radar Measurement of Wind Velocity Over the Ocean: An Overview of the NSCAT Scatterometer System", Proceedings of the IEEE, 79, 1 Jan. 1991.
Shaffer, S., R.S. Dunbar, S.V. Hsiao, and D.G. Long, "A Median-Filter-Based Ambiguity Removal Algorithm for NSCAT," IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 29, 1991.
Wentz, F.J., "Climatology of 14 GHz Atmospheric Attenuation," Remote Sensing Systems Tech. Memo 052096, May 1996. |