High-resolution measurements with a spaceborne pencil-beam scatterometer using combined range/Doppler discrimination techniques

Conically scanning pencil-beam scatterometer systems, such as the recently launched SeaWinds radar, constitute an important class of instruments for spaceborne climate observation. In addition to ocean winds, scatterometer data are being applied to a wide range of land and cryospheric applications. A key issue for future scatterometer missions is improved spatial resolution. Pencil-beam scatterometers to date have been real-aperture systems where only range discrimination is used, resulting in a relatively coarse resolution of approximately 25 km. In this paper, the addition of Doppler discrimination techniques is proposed to meet the need for higher resolution. Here, the unique issues associated with the simultaneous application of range and Doppler processing to a conically scanning radar are addressed, and expressions for the theoretical measurement performance of such a system are derived. Important differences with side-looking imaging radars, which also may employ Doppler techniques, are highlighted. Conceptual design examples based on scatterometer missions of current interest are provided to illustrate this new high-resolution scatterometer approach. It is shown that spatial resolution of pencil-beam scatterometer systems can be improved by an order of magnitude by utilizing combined range/Doppler discrimination techniques, while maintaining the wide-swath and constant incidence angle neaaaaeded for many geophysical measurements.