Optimization of Rotating, Range-gated, Fanbeam Scatterometer for Wind Retrieval, Task 1, Review of the Requirements and Scatterometer Concept

The present technical report describes the results obtained during the Task 1 of the ESA/ESTEC contract titled ″Optimization of Rotating, Range-gated, Fanbeam Scatterometer for Wind Retrieval. The objectives of the Task 1 activity are the following:

- Critical review of the scatterometer wind product requirements and suggestions for improvements,

- Comprehensive review and analysis of the scatterometer concept

- Consideration of system enhancements, review of system feasibility and risk

As an introduction to scatterometer and its techniques, a brief survey of existing scatterometers is given in Section 2
. In Section 3, a review of RFSCAT product requirements is presented which is based on the requirements provided in Att
achment II of the SOW. The rotating fanbeam scatterometer instrument concepts are reviewed in terms of performance, fea
sibility, risk as well as possible enhancements in Section 4. Critical issues in simulation tool development as an intr
oduction to the Task 2 is discussed in Section 5 followed by Conclusions in Section 6.