CEOS EO HANDBOOK – INSTRUMENT SUMMARY - ASCAT -
Full Name Advanced Scatterometer Status Operational
Instrument Agencies EUMETSAT, ESA Maturity
Instrument Type Scatterometers Geometry Side-looking
Instrument Technology Radar scatterometer Sampling Other
Data Access Open Access Data Format Native, BUFR
Measurements and Applications Measures wind speed and direction over ocean, soil moisture, sea ice cover, sea ice type, snow cover and snow parameters and vegetation parameters
Resolution Summary Hi-res mode: 25 - 37 km, Nominal mode: 50 km
Swath Summary Continuous; 2 x 500 km swath width
Accuracy Summary Wind speeds in range 4 - 24 m/s: 2 m/s and direction accuracy of 20 deg
Waveband Summary Microwave: C Band, 5.256 GHz
MW (~0.1 cm - ~100 cm)
C-Band (8 - 4 GHz)
Instrument Measurements
Measurements Overview
CategoryParameter
Ocean surface windsWind speed over sea surface (horizontal)
Sea ice cover, edge and thicknessSea-ice cover
Sea-ice type
Soil moistureSoil moisture at the surface
Thematic Links Global Climate Observing System Essential Climate Variables (GCOS ECVs)
ECVDescriptionProduct(s)ECV Inventory 3.0 Record(s)
Sea Ice click here click here search ECV Inventory records
Soil Moisture click here click here Record ID: 12044
Record ID: 12042
Record ID: 12040
Record ID: 12039
Record ID: 12038
find more ECV Inventory records
Instrument Missions
Metop-A - Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite - A (2006 - 2021)
Metop-B - Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite - B (2012 - 2024)
Metop-C - Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite - C (2018 - 2027)