Abstract :
Seasat-A is a new NASA satellite dedicated to oceanographic measurements of interest to a broad spectrum of the marine community. Its strong suit is an array of active and passive microwave instruments that give it the ability to view surface features on a day-night, near all-weather basis. It will measure such features as wave heights, lengths, and directions; surface wind velocities; currents; temperatures; ice cover; and the marine geoid. Sensor capabilities and examples of their data output will be given, and the usefulness of these data for understanding the coastal marine environment will be discussed.
Keywords :
artificial satellites; ocean temperature; ocean waves; oceanographic equipment; remote sensing; sea ice; wind; NASA Seasat-A; marine environment; marine geoid; microwave sensors; ocean currents; ocean ice cover; ocean temperatures; ocean wave direction; ocean wave height; ocean wave length; oceanographic measurement; spacecraft; surface wind velocity; Current measurement; Instruments; Microwave antenna arrays; Microwave sensors; NASA; Ocean temperature; Satellites; Sea measurements; Sea surface; Space vehicles;
