Please Note: This dataset is retired, and is displayed for archive purposes only, and may not reflect the most updated information.

However, a newer version exists.
RapidScat Level 1B Time-Ordered Geo-Located Sigma-0 Version 2.0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/RSCAT-L1B20

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RapidScat Level 1B Time-Ordered Geo-Located Sigma-0 Version 1.2

(RSCAT_L1B_V1.2)
DOI10.5067/RSCAT-L1B12
Short NameRSCAT_L1B_V1.2
DescriptionThis dataset contains the ISS-RapidScat Version 1.2 Level 1B geo-located Sigma-0 measurements and antenna pulse "egg" and "slice" geometries as derived from ephemeris and the Level 1A dataset. Version 1.2 is 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). 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. The pulse "egg" represents the complete footprint of the pulse, which has a spatial geometry of approximately 25 km by 35 km. There are 8 slices that constitute the range-binned components of a pulse each of which has a spatial geometry of approximately 25 km by 7 km. The orientation of the long dimension of the slices varies with the rotation of the antenna and thus does not align with the along/across track orientation of the wind vector grid in the L2B/L2A products. Data are provided in single-orbit files in HDF-4 format. 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 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. Caution: this dataset is intended for expert use only. If you must use RapidScat Sigma-0 data but you are unsure about how to use the L1B data record, please consider using either of the following L2A datasets: 1) http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/dataset/RSCAT_L2A_12KM_V1.2 or 2) http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/dataset/RSCAT_L2A_25KM_V1.2. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit our Forum at https://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/forum/.
Version1.2
Dataset TypeDEPRECATED
Questions related to this dataset? Contact podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.gov
Please contact podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.gov for more info.
Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. Please cite the data as follows, and cite the reference papers when it is appropriate.
Citation RapidScat Project. 2016. RapidScat Level 1B Time-Ordered Geo-Located Sigma-0 Version 1.2. Ver. 1.2. PO.DAAC, CA, USA. Dataset accessed [YYYY-MM-DD] at https://doi.org/10.5067/RSCAT-L1B12

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For more information see Data Citations and Acknowledgments.

Journal Reference Fore, A.G., Stiles, B.W., Chau, A.H., Williams, B.A., Dunbar, R. S., Rodriguez E., 2013: Point-wise Wind Retrieval and Ambiguity Removal Improvements for the QuikSCAT Climatological Data Set. IEEE Trans. Geoscience and Remote Sensing, doi:10.1109/TGRS.2012.2235843. [Special Note: This paper describes the wind retrieval algorithm used to process the QuikSCAT version 3 wind product. The RapidScat data was processed using the same technique.]

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VersionDatasetVersion DateStatus
2.0RapidScat Level 1B Time-Ordered Geo-Located Sigma-0 Version 2.02023-03-16COMPLETE2023-03-16T17:45:00.000Z
1.3RapidScat Level 1B Time-Ordered Geo-Located Sigma-0 Version 1.32023-02-21RETIRED.2023-02-21T19:40:00.000Z
1.2RapidScat Level 1B Time-Ordered Geo-Located Sigma-0 Version 1.22023-02-21RETIRED.2023-02-21T19:41:00.000Z
1.1RapidScat Level 1B Time-Ordered Geo-Located Sigma-0 Version 1.12023-02-21RETIRED.2023-02-21T19:39:00.000Z