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

Instrument types

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.

Variable sorting criteria

	Each instrument is assigned with a 5-step rating, evaluated as a blend of several elements such as the uncertainty, the vertical resolution, and the frequency and spatial resolution of the retrieved measurement in comparison with the space-time variability of the geophysical parameter. For this particular Variable, the rating is driven by: the observing technique (active or passive); the utilised MW frequencies. RATING CRITERIA:
1	Radar scatterometer
2	MW radiometer with 4 frequencies: 37, 19, 10 and 7 GHz
3	MW radiometer with 3 frequencies: 37, 19; and 10 and/or 7 GHz
4	MW radiometer with 3 frequencies: 19, 10 and 7 GHz; or 2 frequencies: 37 and 19 GHz Cluster of GNSS receivers Large-swath radar altimeter
5	MW radiometer at 37 GHz Radar altimeter (only nadir)

Measurement timeline for Wind speed (near surface)

Definition:

Speed of air at a known height above the surface which is to be specified in the metadata

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

Found 123 results

This table has a large number of results.

HideShow lower rated instruments

HideShow inactive instruments

Instrument	NRT?	Relevance	Satellite	Orbit	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	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	2033	2034	2035	2036	2037	2038	2039	2040	2041	2042	2043	2044	2045
WindRAD		1 - primary	FY-3E	05:30 desc																																																X	X	X	X	X	X
WindRAD		1 - primary	FY-3I	05:30 desc																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
AMI-SCAT		1 - primary	ERS-1	10:30 desc																		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMI-SCAT		1 - primary	ERS-2	10:30 desc																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ASCAT	Yes	1 - primary	Metop-A	08:46 desc																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ASCAT	Yes	1 - primary	Metop-B	09:30 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ASCAT		1 - primary	Metop-C	09:30 desc																																													X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SCA (Scatterometer)		1 - primary	Metop-SG-B1	09:30 desc																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SCA (Scatterometer)		1 - primary	Metop-SG-B2	09:30 desc																																																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SCA (Scatterometer)		1 - primary	Metop-SG-B3	09:30 desc																																																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
NSCAT		1 - primary	ADEOS	10:30 desc																							X	X
OSCAT		1 - primary	OceanSat-2	11:53 desc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
OSCAT		1 - primary	OceanSat-3	12:00 desc																																																X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
OSCAT	No	1 - primary	ScatSat-1	08:45 desc																																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X
RapidScat		1 - primary	ISS RapidScat	51.6 °																																									X	X	X
SASS		1 - primary	SeaSat	108 °					X
SCAT (CFOSAT)		1 - primary	CFOSAT	07:00 desc																																													X	X	X	X	X
SCAT (CFOSAT)		1 - primary	CFOSAT follow-on	07:00 desc																																																	X	X	X	X	X	X
SCAT (HY-2A)		1 - primary	HY-2B	06:00 desc																																													X	X	X	X	X	X
SCAT (HY-2A)		1 - primary	HY-2C	66 °																																															X	X	X	X	X	X
SCAT (HY-2A)		1 - primary	HY-2D	66 °																																																X	X	X	X	X	X
SCAT (HY-2A)		1 - primary	HY-2E	06:00 desc																																																		X	X	X	X	X	X
SCAT (HY-2A)		1 - primary	HY-2F	66 °																																																	X	X	X	X	X	X
SCAT (HY-2A)		1 - primary	HY-2G	66 °																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
SCAT (HY-2A)		1 - primary	HY-2A	06:00 desc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SeaWinds		1 - primary	ADEOS-2	10:30 desc																													X	X
SeaWinds		1 - primary	QuikSCAT	06:00 asc																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSR		2 - very high	ADEOS-2	10:30 desc																													X	X
AMSR-3		2 - very high	GOSAT-GW	13:30 asc																																																		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSR-E	No	2 - very high	Aqua	13:30 asc																													X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSR2	No	2 - very high	GCOM-W	13:30 asc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
CIMR		2 - very high	CIMR	06:00 desc																																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY-MP		2 - very high	Meteor-MP N1	15:30 asc																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY-MP		2 - very high	Meteor-MP N2	09:30 desc																																																					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-OK (MW)		2 - very high	SICH-1M	82.5 °																															X	X	X
MWRI (HY-2)		2 - very high	HY-2B	06:00 desc																																													X	X	X	X	X	X
MWRI (HY-2)		2 - very high	HY-2A	06:00 desc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X
SMMR		2 - very high	Nimbus-7	12:00 desc					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SMMR		2 - very high	SeaSat	108 °					X
WindSat	No	2 - very high	Coriolis	06:10 desc																														X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Delta-2D		3 - high	Okean-O-1	82.5 °																										X	X
SHF		3 - high	Meteor-P1	81.2 °	X	X	X
SHF		3 - high	Meteor-P2	81.2 °			X	X	X
SHF		3 - high	Meteor-P3	10:15 asc				X	X	X
SHF		3 - high	Meteor-P6	10:15 asc								X	X	X
GMI (core)	No	3 - high	GPM Core Observatory	65 °																																									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY		3 - high	Meteor-M N1	09:30 desc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY		3 - high	Meteor-M N2	09:30 asc																																									X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-6	09:00 asc																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-3	09:00 desc																																																X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-4	15:00 asc																																																	X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-5	15:00 desc																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-1	15:09 asc																																												X
MTVZA-GY		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-2	15:00 asc																																														X	X	X	X	X	X
MWRI		3 - high	FY-3G	50 °																																																		X	X	X	X	X	X
MWRI		3 - high	FY-3J	50 °																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
MWRI		3 - high	FY-3A	09:05 desc																																			X
MWRI		3 - high	FY-3B	14:45 asc																																					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWRI		3 - high	FY-3C	09:07 desc																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWRI	Yes	3 - high	FY-3D	13:29 asc																																												X	X	X	X	X	X
MWRI		3 - high	FY-3H	14:00 asc																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
MWRI		3 - high	FY-3F	10:00 desc																																																		X	X	X	X	X	X
TMI		3 - high	TRMM	35 °																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
COWVR		3 - high	ISS COWVR	51.6 °																																																X	X	X	X
MSMR		4 - fair	OceanSat-1 (IRS-P4)	12:00 desc																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
GNOS-2		4 - fair	FY-3G	50 °																																																		X	X	X	X	X	X
GNOS-2		4 - fair	FY-3J	50 °																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
GNOS-2		4 - fair	FY-3E	05:30 desc																																																X	X	X	X	X	X
GNOS-2		4 - fair	FY-3H	14:00 asc																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
GNOS-2		4 - fair	FY-3F	10:00 desc																																																		X	X	X	X	X	X
GNOS-2		4 - fair	FY-3I	05:30 desc																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
MADRAS		4 - fair	Megha-Tropiques	20 °																																						X	X	X
MTVZA		4 - fair	Meteor-3M	09:15 asc																												X	X	X	X	X	X
MWI (MetOp-SG)		4 - fair	Metop-SG-B1	09:30 desc																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWI (MetOp-SG)		4 - fair	Metop-SG-B2	09:30 desc																																																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWI (MetOp-SG)		4 - fair	Metop-SG-B3	09:30 desc																																																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/I		4 - fair	DMSP-F08	06:10 desc														X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/I		4 - fair	DMSP-F10	07:30 desc																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/I		4 - fair	DMSP-F11	05:00 desc																		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/I		4 - fair	DMSP-F12	03:35 desc																					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/I		4 - fair	DMSP-F13	05:51 desc																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/I	No	4 - fair	DMSP-F14	17:00 asc																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/I	No	4 - fair	DMSP-F15	14:50 asc																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSMIS	No	4 - fair	DMSP-F16	06:20 asc																														X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSMIS	No	4 - fair	DMSP-F17	06:40 desc																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSMIS	No	4 - fair	DMSP-F18	04:50 desc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSMIS	No	4 - fair	DMSP-F19	06:36 desc																																									X	X	X
DDMI		4 - fair	CYGNSS (8 sats)	35 °																																											X	X	X	X	X	X
KaRIN		4 - fair	SWOT	78 °																																																X	X	X	X
SHIOSAI		4 - fair	COMPIRA	51 °																																																X	X	X	X	X	X
SWIM		4 - fair	CFOSAT	07:00 desc																																													X	X	X	X	X
SWIM		4 - fair	CFOSAT follow-on	07:00 desc																																																	X	X	X	X	X	X
ESMR (Nimbus-6)		5 - marginal	Nimbus-6	12:00 desc		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MIVZA		5 - marginal	Meteor-3M	09:15 asc																												X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		5 - marginal	HY-2B	06:00 desc																																													X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		5 - marginal	HY-2C	66 °																																															X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		5 - marginal	HY-2D	66 °																																																X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		5 - marginal	HY-2E	06:00 desc																																																		X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		5 - marginal	HY-2F	66 °																																																	X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		5 - marginal	HY-2G	66 °																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (HY-2A)		5 - marginal	HY-2A	06:00 desc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ALT (SeaSat)		5 - marginal	SeaSat	108 °					X
AltiKa		5 - marginal	SARAL	05:56 asc																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Altimeter		5 - marginal	SWOT	78 °																																																X	X	X	X
Altimeter (COMPIRA)		5 - marginal	COMPIRA	51 °																																																X	X	X	X	X	X
GFO-RA		5 - marginal	GFO	108 °																									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
GRA		5 - marginal	GEOSat	108 °												X	X	X	X	X	X
NRA		5 - marginal	TOPEX-Poseidon	66 °																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-2		5 - marginal	JASON-1	66 °																												X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-3		5 - marginal	JASON-2	66 °																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-3B	Yes	5 - marginal	JASON-3	66 °																																											X	X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-4		5 - marginal	Sentinel-6A	66 °																																															X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-4		5 - marginal	Sentinel-6B	66 °																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
RA		5 - marginal	ERS-1	10:30 desc																		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
RA		5 - marginal	ERS-2	10:30 desc																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
RA-2		5 - marginal	Envisat	10:00 desc																													X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SIRAL		5 - marginal	CryoSat	92 °																																X
SIRAL	No	5 - marginal	CryoSat-2	92 °																																					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL	Yes	5 - marginal	Sentinel-3B	10:00 desc																																													X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL		5 - marginal	Sentinel-3C	10:00 desc																																																		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL		5 - marginal	Sentinel-3D	10:00 desc																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL	Yes	5 - marginal	Sentinel-3A	10:00 desc																																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSALT		5 - marginal	TOPEX-Poseidon	66 °																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X

All instruments for measuring Wind speed (near surface)

Instruments	Relevance	Operational limitations
WindRAD	1 - primary
AMI-SCAT	1 - primary
ASCAT	1 - primary
SCA (Scatterometer)	1 - primary
NSCAT	1 - primary
OSCAT	1 - primary
RapidScat	1 - primary
SASS	1 - primary
SCAT (CFOSAT)	1 - primary
SCAT (HY-2A)	1 - primary
SCAT (Meteor-M N3)	1 - primary
SeaWinds	1 - primary
AMSR	2 - very high
AMSR-3	2 - very high
AMSR-E	2 - very high
AMSR2	2 - very high
CIMR	2 - very high
MTVZA-GY-MP	2 - very high
MTVZA-OK (MW)	2 - very high
MWRI (HY-2)	2 - very high
SMMR	2 - very high
WindSat	2 - very high
Delta-2D	3 - high
SHF	3 - high
GMI (constellation)	3 - high
GMI (core)	3 - high
MTVZA-GY	3 - high
MWRI	3 - high
TMI	3 - high
COWVR	3 - high
MSMR	4 - fair
GNOS-2	4 - fair
MADRAS	4 - fair
MTVZA	4 - fair
MWI (MetOp-SG)	4 - fair
SSM/I	4 - fair
SSMIS	4 - fair
DDMI	4 - fair
KaRIN	4 - fair
SHIOSAI	4 - fair
SWIM	4 - fair
ESMR (Nimbus-6)	5 - marginal
MIVZA	5 - marginal
ALT (HY-2A)	5 - marginal
ALT (SeaSat)	5 - marginal
AltiKa	5 - marginal
Altimeter	5 - marginal
Altimeter (COMPIRA)	5 - marginal
GFO-RA	5 - marginal
GRA	5 - marginal
NRA	5 - marginal
Poseidon-2	5 - marginal
Poseidon-3	5 - marginal
Poseidon-3B	5 - marginal
Poseidon-4	5 - marginal
RA	5 - marginal
RA-2	5 - marginal
SIRAL	5 - marginal
SRAL	5 - marginal
SSALT	5 - marginal