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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

wind field, classification, satellite scatterometer, Seasat Scatterometer, SASS

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology

Department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Abstract

Since near-surface ocean winds affect global climate, several space-borne instruments have been deployed to measure ocean winds. The most widely known of these instruments are the satellite scatterometers, such as the Seasat Scatterometer (SASS), the NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT), and the Active Microwave Instruments (AMI) aboard the European Remote Sensing satellites ERS-1 and ERS-2. All of these devices measure near-surface ocean wind by transmitting microwave radiation to the ocean’s surface and then measuring the power level of the radiation scattered back to the satellite. The recorded power measurements provide information on the roughness of the ocean’s surface. Since wind alters the shape of the surface in a predictable fashion, the power measurements also allow engineers to infer the speed and direction of the near-surface ocean wind.

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