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Scatterometers

The scatterometer is a non-imaging weather radar The scatterometer transmits microwave signal and measures the strength of the backscattering radiation (reflection)

Application:

Examples: NASA Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT):

QuikSCAT measurement capability:

  • 1,800-kilometer swath during each orbit provides approximately 90-percent coverage of Earth’s oceans every day.
  • Wind-speed measurements of 3 to 20 m/s, with an accuracy of 2 m/s; direction, with an accuracy of 20 degrees.
  • Wind vector resolution of 25 km