Measuring winds and rainfall from space - The radar wind sounder (RAWS)
Abstract
The development of the laser wind sounder (LAWS) for use on the Earth Observing System polar platform is discussed. LAWS depends on the Doppler frequency shift of optical-wavelength backscatter from atmospheric aerosols, but it cannot be used where clouds interfere. A radar wind sensor (RAWS) could fill these gaps in LAWS coverage by measuring the Doppler shift of backscatter from cloud and rain drops. RAWS must have enough sensitivity to measure Doppler shift of cloud drops, and so it will also have more than adequate sensitivity for measuring rain rates around the world. With the scan pattern proposed, RAWS will also obtain multiple looks at backscatter from the ocean, so it can be used as a surface-wind-vector scatterometer. The proposed system will use a circular scan pattern, which permits observation of each point from two directions. By adding a second beam at a different depression angle, it is possible to obtain two more measurements.
- Publication:
-
Quantitative Remote Sensing: An Economic Tool for the Nineties, Volume 1
- Pub Date:
- 1989
- Bibcode:
- 1989qrse.conf.2303M
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Circulation;
- Backscattering;
- Doppler Radar;
- Rain;
- Winds Aloft;
- Aerosols;
- Laser Applications;
- Ocean Surface;
- Optical Radar;
- Scatterometers;
- Weather Forecasting;
- Instrumentation and Photography