Scatterometer data is continuing to find a variety new applications beyond its original function of wind measurement over the ocean. Some interesting examples are illustrated below. You may want to view animated image time series movies of radar backscatter for the QuikSCAT, NSCAT, ERS and SASS scatterometers image datasets.

Produced entirely from Quikscat data, this image illustrates the wealth of information available in scatterometer data. Over the ocean, colors indicate wind speed (blue is low, yellow high) while the wind direction is indicated with white streamlines. The land areas are enhanced resolution backscatter values ranging from high values in tropical vegetation to low values in the deserts. The sea ice extent at the poles is calculated from the scatterometer data and is imaged as enhanced resolution backscatter values. The dry snow zone and melt facies of Greenland can be clearly distinguished. Click on the image for a larger view. (Image copyright BYU, 2000.)

Iceberg Tracking: Shortly after instrument turn on in early July, 1999, QuikScat located a massive iceberg, later identified as B10A, floating in the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica. Its location was relayed to the National Ice Center who issued a shipping advisory on the story. The 38 km by 77 km iceberg was spotted in an enhanced resolution image (157K gif) produced from QuikScat data using the SIRF algorithm.

Other Items:

QuikSCAT Images and Movies

NSCAT Images and Movies

ERS Movies

SASS Movies

NSCAT Probability Distribution

User additions to this page are solicited.