SeaWinds-a new spaceborne radar for measuring ocean wind vectors

SeaWinds is a new spaceborne Ku-band scatterometer that will provide accurate, continuous measurements of global ocean wind vectors. The instrument will fly on the Japanese Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS-II). SeaWinds is a pulsed 110 watt, 13.402 GHz radar with a conical scanned antenna providing an ocean swath of 1800 km. Seawinds has many advantages over preceding spaceborne scatterometers. The major subsystems and electrical characteristics are discussed, and the ground support equipment required to verify the flight hardware performance and calibration prior to launch is covered. Examples of previous NASA scatterometer ocean wind vector maps are included.