Presenting Author: Ms. Julia Figa-Saldana

The Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) on METOP-A is a real aperture, vertical polarisation, C band radar. It has been designed with the primary objective of providing near surface winds over the global oceans in all weather conditions. Other important parameters can be estimated and monitored from ASCAT data, such as sea ice coverage, concentration and type and soil moisture over land. EUMETSAT’s primary objective is to provide users with satellite data products for operational applications. In that context, the EUMETSAT Polar System (EPS) provides a range of ASCAT products, with emphasis on near real time services with a high degree of reliability and continuity. Global backscatter coefficient values are provided in near real time, at approximately 50 and 34 km resolution, on a 25 km and 12.5 km swath grid spacing, respectively. The EUMETSAT Ocean and Sea Ice and Numerical Weather Prediction Satellite Application Facilities (OSI and NWP SAFs) further extend these services to Level 2 ocean winds and various scatterometer processing software modules. EUMETSAT also provides in near real time global ASCAT Level 2 soil moisture products. Additionally, the EUMETSAT Advanced Retransmission System (EARS) provides fast access to ASCAT Level 2 winds on regional coverage, aiming at products dissemination after only 30 minutes from sensing. The EARS products are intended to satisfy the need for surface winds of regional weather forecasting and nowcasting applications. A description and summary of the status of all the ASCAT services above is given, together with access details and links to supporting user documentation.

2024 International OVWST Meeting May 29 - 31 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

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