Radiometric Calibration of the Advanced Wind Scatterometer Radar ASCAT Carried Onboard the METOP-A Satellite

The Advanced Wind Scatterometer (ASCAT) is a six-beam spaceborne radar instrument designed to measure wind fields over the oceans. An ASCAT instrument is carried by each of the three METOP satellites. The ASCAT calibration strategy is described and detailed results are presented concerning the radiometric calibration achieved.