ISS-RapidScat: Surface Radar Backscatter and Attenuation Data

ISS-RapidScat Level 2A Version 2.0 provides calibrated surface-flagged radar backscatter (sigma-0) and attenuation corrections in 25km Wind Vector Cells. The data are derived from a Ku-band scatterometer mounted on the International Space Station, offering a complete historical reprocessing for consistent calibration across the instrument's operational period. Coverage is limited to latitudes between approximately 61 degrees North and South due to the ISS's non-sun-synchronous, low-inclination orbit.

Use Cases

• Calibrating wind retrieval algorithms based on surface-flagged sigma-0 measurements.
• Analyzing radar attenuation effects on backscatter signals for different surface types.
• Studying wind patterns in tropical and mid-latitude regions using the 25km Wind Vector Cell grid.
• Comparing scatterometer performance and data structure between ISS-RapidScat and its predecessor, QuikSCAT.

Strengths

• Represents a complete historical reprocessing (Version 2.0) for consistent calibration.
• Provides specific spatial coverage from approximately 61°N to 61°S.
• Data structure is optimized to handle variable Sigma-0 cells per Wind Vector Cell, minimizing volume.

Limitations

• Critical metadata conflicts: last updated dates range from 2016 to 2026 across platforms.
• Column names, row counts, and exact file sizes are not provided in any source.
• Spatial coverage is restricted compared to sun-synchronous satellites, and there is no consistent local time of day for retrievals.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Data collected by the ISS-RapidScat (SeaWinds) scatterometer instrument and processed to Level 2A.

Time Range

Covers the operational period of the ISS-RapidScat mission; specific start and end dates are not provided.

Freshness

2026-04-09 22:57:52.072433 (most recent date from datagov, though this conflicts with an older date from nasa_earthdata)

Geography

Global coverage between approximately 61 degrees North and 61 degrees South latitude.