CYGNSS Satellite Constellation Ocean Wind Measurements

8 netCDF files are produced daily by the CYGNSS satellite constellation, each corresponding to a unique spacecraft. The dataset contains calibrated Delay Doppler Maps (DDMs) for Power Received and Bistatic Radar Cross Section, along with parameters like Normalized Bistatic Radar Cross Section (NBRCS) and Leading Edge Slope (LES). This Version 1.2 Climate Data Record, produced by POCLOUD, is a reanalysis product derived from SDR v3.1 Level 1 data with improved calibration accuracy.

Use Cases

• Estimate ocean surface wind speeds by analyzing the calibrated Power Received values from Delay Doppler Maps.
• Study sea state and roughness using the Bistatic Radar Cross Section (BRCS) and Normalized Bistatic Radar Cross Section (NBRCS) parameters.
• Monitor tropical storm and hurricane intensity by leveraging the higher retrieval frequency data from up to 8 spacecraft.
• Validate and calibrate satellite wind retrieval models using the trackwise corrected NBRCS and LES science data products.
• Assess long-term stability and calibration errors using the provided quality flags, error estimates, and bias estimates.

Strengths

• Data is produced from up to 8 spacecraft daily, providing frequent global coverage.
• Version 1.2 improves calibration accuracy and long-term stability over previous versions using a trackwise correction algorithm.
• Includes multiple calibrated science products like BRCS, NBRCS, and LES alongside engineering and geolocation parameters.

Limitations

• The trackwise correction algorithm cannot be applied to all source data, resulting in a loss of some samples present in the v3.1 SDR.
• Data latency is approximately one week, limiting real-time analysis applications.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and complete column details are unknown.

Provenance

Source

CYGNSS satellite constellation Delay Doppler Mapping Instrument.

Collection Method

Reanalysis products derived from SDR v3.1 Level 1 data, processed with a trackwise correction algorithm.

Freshness

Data files are produced daily with a latency of approximately one week.

Geography

Global coverage from satellite constellation.