RapidScat Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites Version 1.2

This dataset contains the RapidScat Level 2B 12.5km Version 1.2 science-quality ocean surface wind vectors, which are intended as a replacement and continuation of the Version 1.1 data forward from orbital revolution number 5127, corresponding to 19 August 2015; the overlapping time period starting on 19 August 2015 corresponds to the first time period of the recorded low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The Level 2B wind vectors are binned on a 12.5 km Wind Vector Cell (WVC) grid and processed using the Level 2A Sigma-0 dataset. RapidScat is a Ku-band dual beam circular rotating scatterometer retaining much of the same hardware and functionality of QuikSCAT, with exception of the antenna sub-system and digital interface to the International Space Station (ISS) Columbus module, which is where RapidScat is mounted. The NASA mission is officially referred to as ISS-RapidScat. Unlike QuikSCAT, ISS-RapidScat is not in sun-synchronous orbit, and flies at roughly half the altitude with a low inclination angle that restricts data coverage to the tropics and mid-latitude regions; the extent of latitudinal coverage stretches from approximately 61 degrees North to 61 degrees South. Furthermore, there is no consistent local time of day retrieval. This dataset is provided in a netCDF-3 file format that follows the netCDF-4 classic model (i.e., generated by the netCDF-4 API) and made available via FTP and OPeNDAP. For data access, please click on the "Data Access" tab above. This Version 1.2 dataset differs from the previous Version 1.1 dataset as follows: 1) L1B sigma-0 has been re-calibrated during the periods of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and 2) during low SNR periods the L1B sigma-0 calibration is determined using re-pointed L1B QuikSCAT data. It is advised for users to avoid using the "wind_obj" variable in this dataset since it is minimally applicable and meant primarily for quality assurance; for users who wish to access the objective function values for each ambiguity, it is suggested to use only the "ambiguity_obj" variable. The "wind_obj" variable contains DIRTH probabilities (which are derived form the "ambiguity_obj" objective function values) in the range of 0 to 1 indicating the conditional probability that the true direction is within + or - 2.5 degrees of the retrieved wind direction given the observed backscatter measurements in the cell. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our Forum at https://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/forum/.

Data and Resources

Field Value
accessLevel public
bureauCode {026:00}
catalog_@context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
catalog_@id https://data.nasa.gov/data.json
catalog_conformsTo https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
catalog_describedBy https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
citation RapidScat Project. 2016-04-18. RapidScat Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites. Version 1.2. RapidScat Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites Version 1.2. PO.DAAC. Archived by National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Government, PO.DAAC. https://doi.org/10.5067/RSX12-L2B12. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/fact_sheets/issrapidscat_factsheet.pdf. RapidScat Project, PO.DAAC, 2016-04-18, RapidScat Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites Version 1.2, http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/fact_sheets/issrapidscat_factsheet.pdf.
creator RapidScat Project
graphic-preview-description Thumbnail
graphic-preview-file https://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/Podaac/thumbnails/RSCAT_LEVEL_2B_OWV_COMP_12_V1.2.jpg
identifier C1664741360-PODAAC
issued 2016-04-18
landingPage https://doi.org/10.5067/RSX12-L2B12
language {en-US}
metadata_type geospatial
modified 2017-04-28
programCode {026:001}
publisher NASA/JPL/PODAAC
release-place PO.DAAC
resource-type Dataset
series-name RapidScat Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites
source_datajson_identifier true
source_hash 0aa2be51d74488bf9bd065c4e16d11d81d8c3009
source_schema_version 1.1
spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -61.0], [180.0, -61.0], [180.0, 61.0], [-180.0, 61.0], [-180.0, -61.0]]]}
temporal 2015-08-19T03:48:11Z/2016-08-19T15:01:26Z
theme {ISS_RapidScat,geospatial}
Groups
  • AmeriGEOSS
  • National Provider
  • North America
Tags
  • amerigeo
  • amerigeoss
  • ckan
  • earth-science
  • geo
  • geoss
  • national
  • north-america
  • ocean-winds
  • oceans
  • united-states
isopen False
license_id notspecified
license_title License not specified
maintainer Bryan Stiles
maintainer_email Bryan.W.Stiles@jpl.nasa.gov
metadata_created 2025-11-20T19:01:04.338391
metadata_modified 2025-11-20T19:01:04.338395
notes This dataset contains the RapidScat Level 2B 12.5km Version 1.2 science-quality ocean surface wind vectors, which are intended as a replacement and continuation of the Version 1.1 data forward from orbital revolution number 5127, corresponding to 19 August 2015; the overlapping time period starting on 19 August 2015 corresponds to the first time period of the recorded low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The Level 2B wind vectors are binned on a 12.5 km Wind Vector Cell (WVC) grid and processed using the Level 2A Sigma-0 dataset. RapidScat is a Ku-band dual beam circular rotating scatterometer retaining much of the same hardware and functionality of QuikSCAT, with exception of the antenna sub-system and digital interface to the International Space Station (ISS) Columbus module, which is where RapidScat is mounted. The NASA mission is officially referred to as ISS-RapidScat. Unlike QuikSCAT, ISS-RapidScat is not in sun-synchronous orbit, and flies at roughly half the altitude with a low inclination angle that restricts data coverage to the tropics and mid-latitude regions; the extent of latitudinal coverage stretches from approximately 61 degrees North to 61 degrees South. Furthermore, there is no consistent local time of day retrieval. This dataset is provided in a netCDF-3 file format that follows the netCDF-4 classic model (i.e., generated by the netCDF-4 API) and made available via FTP and OPeNDAP. For data access, please click on the "Data Access" tab above. This Version 1.2 dataset differs from the previous Version 1.1 dataset as follows: 1) L1B sigma-0 has been re-calibrated during the periods of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and 2) during low SNR periods the L1B sigma-0 calibration is determined using re-pointed L1B QuikSCAT data. It is advised for users to avoid using the "wind_obj" variable in this dataset since it is minimally applicable and meant primarily for quality assurance; for users who wish to access the objective function values for each ambiguity, it is suggested to use only the "ambiguity_obj" variable. The "wind_obj" variable contains DIRTH probabilities (which are derived form the "ambiguity_obj" objective function values) in the range of 0 to 1 indicating the conditional probability that the true direction is within + or - 2.5 degrees of the retrieved wind direction given the observed backscatter measurements in the cell. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our Forum at https://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/forum/.
num_resources 16
num_tags 11
title RapidScat Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites Version 1.2