Measuring ocean waves from space

During the coming decade, several nations will monitor various properties of the ocean surface with active radars in space. The Europeans will launch ERS-1, the Japanese will launch JERS-1, the U.S. will launch TOPEX and possibly NROSS, and the Canadians will launch Radarsat. NASA is planning two SI...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aerospace America 1988-01, Vol.26, p.34
Main Author: BEAL, ROBERTC
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:During the coming decade, several nations will monitor various properties of the ocean surface with active radars in space. The Europeans will launch ERS-1, the Japanese will launch JERS-1, the U.S. will launch TOPEX and possibly NROSS, and the Canadians will launch Radarsat. NASA is planning two SIR-C flights in the early 1990's; these flights are expected to demonstrate the potential of SAR for the validation and refinement of ocean wave models over global scales. Attention is given to the Spectrasat concept, involving a low-altitude, free-flying SAR with a three-year orbital lifetime using active drag compensation combined with a small spacecraft frontal cross section. Another approach is the addition of an off-nadir ROWS (radar ocean wave spectrometer) to one of the planned higher- altitude missions. (B.J.)
ISSN:0740-722X