WMO OSCAR | Gap analyses by variable

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Gap analyses by variable or by type of mission

Please select either a variable or a type of mission to display a time chart of satellite instruments having the potential to provide the corresponding measurements. The selection is based on design characteristics (Expert analysis) or declared mission objectives (Simplified analysis). Such a preliminary analysis does not replace a detailed assessment of the actual instrument performances, data availability, and quality of derived environmental data records against specific user requirements.

Note: The chart can be sorted by clicking on the header columns and filtered by instrument properties when applicable. Select the period of interest with the cursor at the bottom of the chart. Future missions which are not firmly planned are shaded with stripes. A warning icon () indicates degraded satellite: hover over the icon for details. The chart is followed by a table of all potentially relevant instruments.

Select a variable

or select a type of mission

Analysis

Expert system, based on instrument properties Help icon

Simplified, based on mission objectives Help icon

In "Simplified" mode, the results in the analysis are calculated by looking at each instrument's mission objectives: for each instrument we keep track of what the primary, secondary, and opportunity mission objectives are. These mission objectives indicate that an instrument is primarily envisioned to measure variable X, Y and Z, that variables A, B and C are its secondary objective, and that it may offer the opportunity to measure variables I and II although it is not optimized for that. The simplified Gap analysis produces a timeline based on this information. The simplified Gap analysis is only available for analyzing variables, not for missions.

In "Expert system" mode, the results in the analysis are calculated with an expert system. Internally, OSCAR works with a large set of 1700 rules that determine whether or not an instrument is capable of measuring a given variable, and to what degree. When you select "Expert system", the Gap analysis is performed based on this large set of rules.

Measurement timeline for Significant wave height

Definition: Average amplitude of the highest 30 of 100 waves.

Hint: Move around in the timeline by scrolling up, down, left or right.

Found 89 results

Instrument	NRT?	Relevance	Satellite	Orbit	1978	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030	2031	2032
KaRIN		1 - primary	SWOT	78 °																																						X	X	X	X
SWIM		1 - primary	CFOSAT	07:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X
SWIM		1 - primary	CFOSAT follow-on	07:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
SHIOSAI		1 - primary	COMPIRA	51 °																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
AltiKa		2 - very high	SARAL	06:00 asc																														X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		2 - very high	HY-2A	06:00 desc																												X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		2 - very high	HY-2B	06:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		2 - very high	HY-2C	66 °																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		2 - very high	HY-2D	66 °																																					X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		2 - very high	HY-2E	06:00 desc																																					X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		2 - very high	HY-2F	66 °																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		2 - very high	HY-2G	66 °																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (SeaSat)		2 - very high	SeaSat	108 °	X
Altimeter		2 - very high	SWOT	78 °																																						X	X	X	X
Altimeter (COMPIRA)		2 - very high	COMPIRA	51 °																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
GFO-RA		2 - very high	GFO	108 °															X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
GRA		2 - very high	GEOSat	108 °		X	X	X	X	X	X
NRA		2 - very high	TOPEX-Poseidon	66 °									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-2		2 - very high	JASON-1	66 °																		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-3	Yes	2 - very high	JASON-2	66 °																									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-3B	Yes	2 - very high	JASON-3	66 °																																	X	X	X	X	X	X
RA		2 - very high	ERS-1	10:30 desc								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
RA		2 - very high	ERS-2	10:30 desc												X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
RA-2		2 - very high	Envisat	10:00 desc																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SIRAL		2 - very high	CryoSat	92 °																						X
SIRAL	No	2 - very high	CryoSat-2	92 °																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL	Yes	2 - very high	Sentinel-3A	10:00 desc																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL		2 - very high	Sentinel-3B	10:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL		2 - very high	Sentinel-3C	10:00 desc																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL		2 - very high	Sentinel-3D	10:00 desc																																									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL (JASON)		2 - very high	JASON-CS-A	66 °																																					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL (JASON)		2 - very high	JASON-CS-B	66 °																																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSALT		2 - very high	TOPEX-Poseidon	66 °									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		3 - high	Meteor-MP N1	15:30 asc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		3 - high	Meteor-MP N2	09:30 desc																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		3 - high	Obzor-R N1	TBD																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		3 - high	Obzor-R N2	TBD																																								X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		3 - high	Obzor-R N3	TBD																																									X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		3 - high	Obzor-R N4	TBD																																										X	X	X	X
COSI		3 - high	KOMPSAT-5	06:00 asc																														X	X	X	X	X	X
HRWS-SAR		3 - high	HRWS-SAR	06:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MeteoSAR		3 - high	Meteor-M N3	12:00 asc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X
MeteoSAR		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-3	15:09 asc																																					X	X	X	X	X	X
MeteoSAR		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-4	09:00 desc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X
MeteoSAR		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-5	15:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
MeteoSAR		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-6	09:00																																								X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-2000	No	3 - high	CSK-1	06:00 asc																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-2000	No	3 - high	CSK-2	06:00 asc																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-2000	No	3 - high	CSK-3	06:00 asc																									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-2000	No	3 - high	CSK-4	06:00 asc																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-2000 S.G.		3 - high	CSG-1	06:00 asc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-2000 S.G.		3 - high	CSG-2	06:00 asc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-X		3 - high	TanDEM-X	06:00 desc																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-X		3 - high	TerraSAR-X	06:00 desc																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-X		3 - high	TSX-NG	06:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-X (Paz (SEOSAR))		3 - high	SEOSAR/Paz	06:00 asc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-X (RISAT-2)		3 - high	RISAT-2	41 °																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
W-SAR		3 - high	HY-3A	06:00 desc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
W-SAR		3 - high	HY-3B	06:00 desc																																					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMI-SAR		4 - fair	ERS-1	10:30 desc								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMI-SAR		4 - fair	ERS-2	10:30 desc												X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ASAR		4 - fair	Envisat	10:00 desc																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR (RadarSat-1)		4 - fair	RadarSat-1	06:00 desc												X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR (RadarSat-1)	No	4 - fair	RadarSat-2	06:00 desc																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR RCM		4 - fair	RCM-1	06:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR RCM		4 - fair	RCM-2	06:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR RCM		4 - fair	RCM-3	06:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (GF-3)		4 - fair	GF-3	06:00 desc																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (RISAT)		4 - fair	RISAT-1	06:00 desc																													X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (RISAT)		4 - fair	RISAT-1A	06:00 desc																																				X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)	No	4 - fair	Sentinel-1A	06:00 desc																															X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)		4 - fair	Sentinel-1B	06:00 desc																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)	No	4 - fair	Sentinel-1C	06:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)	No	4 - fair	Sentinel-1D	06:00 desc																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-Travers		5 - marginal	Resurs-O1-1	10:15 asc		X	X
SAR-10		5 - marginal	Kondor-E1	74.75 °																															X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-10		5 - marginal	Kondor-E	74.75 °																														X	X
SAR-S		5 - marginal	HJ-1C	06:00 desc																													X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-S (NISAR)		5 - marginal	NI-SAR	06:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
PALSAR		5 - marginal	ALOS	10:30 desc																							X	X	X	X	X	X
PALSAR-2	No	5 - marginal	ALOS-2	12:00 desc																															X	X	X	X	X	X	X
PALSAR-2	No	5 - marginal	ALOS-4	12:00 desc																																					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR		5 - marginal	SeaSat	108 °	X
SAR (JERS)		5 - marginal	JERS	10:45 desc									X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L		5 - marginal	SAOCOM-1A	06:00 asc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L		5 - marginal	SAOCOM-1B	06:00 asc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L		5 - marginal	SAOCOM-2A	06:00 asc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L		5 - marginal	SAOCOM-2B	06:00 asc																																					X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L (NISAR)		5 - marginal	NI-SAR	06:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X

All instruments for measuring Significant wave height

Instruments	Relevance	Operational limitations
KaRIN	1 - primary	Infrequent coverage..
SWIM	1 - primary	Infrequent coverage..
SHIOSAI	1 - primary	Infrequent coverage..
AltiKa	2 - very high	Along-track only..
ALT (HY-2A)	2 - very high	Along-track only..
ALT (SeaSat)	2 - very high	Along-track only..
Altimeter	2 - very high	Along-track only..
Altimeter (COMPIRA)	2 - very high	Along-track only..
GFO-RA	2 - very high	Along-track only..
GRA	2 - very high	Along-track only..
NRA	2 - very high	Along-track only..
Poseidon-2	2 - very high	Along-track only..
Poseidon-3	2 - very high	Along-track only..
Poseidon-3B	2 - very high	Along-track only..
RA	2 - very high	Along-track only..
RA-2	2 - very high	Along-track only..
SIRAL	2 - very high	Along-track only..
SRAL	2 - very high	Along-track only..
SRAL (JASON)	2 - very high	Along-track only..
SSALT	2 - very high	Along-track only..
SAR-X/Ku	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
BRLK “Briz”	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
COSI	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
HRWS-SAR	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
MeteoSAR	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-2000	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-2000 S.G.	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-X	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-X (Paz (SEOSAR))	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-X (RISAT-2)	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
W-SAR	3 - high	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
AMI-SAR	4 - fair	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
ASAR	4 - fair	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR (RadarSat-1)	4 - fair	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR RCM	4 - fair	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-C (GF-3)	4 - fair	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-C (RISAT)	4 - fair	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)	4 - fair	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-Travers	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-10	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-S	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-S (NISAR)	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
InSAR	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
PALSAR	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
PALSAR-2	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR (JERS)	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-L	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..
SAR-L (NISAR)	5 - marginal	Highly indirect.. Infrequent coverage..