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Instrument

UW-Scat
University of Waterloo Scatterometer

The University of Waterloo Scatterometer (UW-Scat) is a ground-based polarimetric scatterometer that observes snow and ice properties. It comprises two scatterometers operating at Ku-band (17.2 GHz) and X-band (9.6 GHz) to measure radar backscatter. These measurements are used to derive snow and ice properties, including snow water equivalent (SWE). UW-Scat has a range resolution of 30 cm and half-power beam widths of 5.6 and 4.3 degrees at Ku-band and X-band, respectively. A full scan of UW-Scat takes approximately 24 minutes.

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Instrument Details

Scatterometer
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar > Radar Cross-section
Earth Science > Cryosphere > Snow/ice
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar > Radar Backscatter
Earth Science > Terrestrial Hydrosphere > Snow/ice
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Snow
Full Column Profile, Land Surface
24 min
30 cm
17.2 GHz, 9.6 GHz
https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2012.2212177External Link