Preliminary design of the SWIMSAT radar for the measurement of ocean wave spectra

The main objective of SWIMSAT is to measure the directional spectra of waves thanks to a space-borne radar. The instrumental concept involves a real-aperture radar using a multi-beam conical scanning, in order to provide measurements of the spectral properties of the wave field, and to estimate the profile of radar cross-section depending on incidence (0/spl deg/ to 10/spl deg/) and azimuth (0/spl deg/ to 360/spl deg/). The paper provides an overview of the mission and of the measurement principle, and the status on instrument design.