WindSat

WindSat

Satellite

Coriolis

Status

Operational – Utilised in the period 2003 to ~ 2009

Mission

Demonstration of sea surface wind vector observation by polarimetric passive radiometry. Also sea-surface temperature, precipitation, ice, snow and soil moisture index

Instrument type

5-frequency, 22-channel MW radiometer; three channels with full polarimetric capability

Scanning technique

Conical: 50-55° zenith angle, swath 1000 km – Scan rate: 31.6 scan/min = 12.5 km/scan

Coverage/cycle

Global in 1.5 days

Resolution (constant)

Changing with frequency, consistent with antenna diameters of 1.83 m

Resources

Mass: 341 kg - Power: 350 W - Data rate: 35 kbps

Central frequency (GHz)

Bandwidth (MHz)

Polarisations

Accuracy (NEΔT)

IFOV

Pixel

6.8

125

V, H

........ K

40 x 60 km

40 x 50 km

10.7

300

V, H, P, M, L, R

........ K

25 x 38 km

20 x 25 km

18.7

750

V, H, P, M, L, R

........ K

16 x 27 km

10 x 25 km

23.8

500

V, H

........ K

12 x 20 km

10 x 12.5 km

37.0

2000

V, H, P, M, L, R

........ K

8 x 13 km

5 x 12.5 km