Three Generations of C-Band Wind Scatterometer Systems From ERS-1/2 to MetOp/ASCAT, and MetOp Second Generation.

The C-band wind scatterometer service to the meteorological community started with the launch of the first European radar satellite ERS-1 on July 17, 1991, followed by its twin-satellite ERS-2 launched on April 21, 1995. The continuity of the ocean surface wind observations after ERS was ensured by the first series of operational polar orbiting meteorological satellites, with MetOp-A and MetOp-B s...