WMO OSCAR | Gap analyses by variable or by type of mission or by WIGOS subcomponent

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Gap analyses by variable or by type of mission or by WIGOS subcomponent

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

Select WIGOS subcomponents

Subcomponent 1

Subcomponent 2

Subcomponent 3

Subcomponent 4

Instrument types

ECT range

Orbit types

Longitude range

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. For this particular Variable, the rating is driven by: the exploited measurement technique (radar, MW radiometry, lidar) the exploited frequency bands in MW. RATING CRITERIA:
1	Cloud or precipitation radar
2	Backscatter lidar
3	MW radiometer with many sounding channels in the 54 GHz band MW radiometer with few sounding channels in the 54 and 183 GHz bands
4	MW radiometer with few sounding channels in the 54 GHz band
5	Lidar altimeters

Measurement timeline for Melting layer depth in clouds

Definition: Depth of the atmospheric layer in cloud where liquid-solid states transform into each other

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

Found 87 results

This table has a large number of results.

Hide lower rated instruments

Hide inactive instruments

Instrument	NRT?	Relevance	Satellite	Orbit	1972	1973	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	2046
DPR	No	1 - primary	GPM Core Observatory	65 °																																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
PRM		1 - primary	FY-3G	50 °																																																				X	X	X	X	X
PRM		1 - primary	FY-3I	50 °																																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
PR		1 - primary	TRMM	35 °																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
CPR (CloudSat)		1 - primary	CloudSat	13:30 asc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
CPR (Earth-CARE)		1 - primary	EarthCARE	14:00 desc																																																				X	X	X	X
CATS		2 - very high	ISS CATS	51.6 °																																												X	X	X
ACDL		2 - very high	DQ-1	13:00 asc																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ACDL		2 - very high	DQ-2	13:00 asc																																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
CALIOP	No	2 - very high	CALIPSO	13:45 asc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ATLID		2 - very high	EarthCARE	14:00 desc																																																				X	X	X	X
AMSU-A	Yes	3 - high	Aqua	13:30 asc																															X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSU-A	No	3 - high	Metop-A	07:50 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSU-A	Yes	3 - high	Metop-B	09:31 desc																																									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSU-A	Yes	3 - high	Metop-C	09:31 desc																																															X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSU-A	Yes	3 - high	NOAA-15	07:28 desc																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSU-A		3 - high	NOAA-16	09:01 desc																													X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSU-A		3 - high	NOAA-17	07:03 desc																															X	X
AMSU-A	Yes	3 - high	NOAA-18	08:05 desc																																		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMSU-A	Yes	3 - high	NOAA-19	07:29 desc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ATMS	Yes	3 - high	NOAA-20	13:25 asc																																														X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ATMS		3 - high	JPSS-2	13:30 asc																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ATMS	Yes	3 - high	SNPP	13:25 asc																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ATMS		3 - high	JPSS-3	13:30 asc																																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ATMS		3 - high	JPSS-4	13:30 asc																																																													X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ATMS		3 - high	QuickSounder																																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
MWS		3 - high	Metop-SG-A2	09:30 desc																																																												X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWS		3 - high	Metop-SG-A3	09:30 desc																																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWS		3 - high	Metop-SG-A1	09:30 desc																																																					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWTS-2		3 - high	FY-3C	08:20 desc																																										X	X	X
MWTS-2	Yes	3 - high	FY-3D	13:29 asc																																														X	X	X	X	X	X
MWTS-3		3 - high	FY-3H	14:00 asc																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWTS-3		3 - high	FY-3F	10:00 desc																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWTS-3		3 - high	FY-3J	05:00 desc																																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWTS-3		3 - high	FY-3E	05:40 desc																																																		X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA		3 - high	Meteor-3M	09:15 asc																														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 N2-1	15:09 asc																																														X
MTVZA-GY		3 - high	Meteor-M N2-2	15:00 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 N2-6	09:00 asc																																																						X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY-MP		3 - high	Meteor-MP N1	15:30 asc																																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-GY-MP		3 - high	Meteor-MP N2	09:30 desc																																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MTVZA-OK (MW)		3 - high	SICH-1M	82.5 °																																	X	X	X
SSMIS	No	3 - high	DMSP-F16	06:20 desc																																X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSMIS	No	3 - high	DMSP-F17	06:40 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSMIS	No	3 - high	DMSP-F18	04:50 desc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSMIS	No	3 - high	DMSP-F19	06:36 desc																																											X	X	X
MWI (MetOp-SG)		3 - high	Metop-SG-B1	09:30 desc																																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWI (MetOp-SG)		3 - high	Metop-SG-B2	09:30 desc																																																													X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWI (MetOp-SG)		3 - high	Metop-SG-B3	09:30 desc																																																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWRI-RM		3 - high	FY-3G	50 °																																																				X	X	X	X	X
MWRI-RM		3 - high	FY-3I	50 °																																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
GEDI Lidar		3 - high	ISS GEDI	51.6 °																																															X	X	X	X	X	X
MOLI lidar		3 - high	ISS MOLI	51.6 °																																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
MSU		4 - fair	NOAA-6	07:30 desc								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MSU		4 - fair	NOAA-7	14:30 asc										X	X	X	X	X	X
MSU		4 - fair	NOAA-8	07:30 desc												X	X	X
MSU		4 - fair	NOAA-9	14:30 asc													X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MSU		4 - fair	NOAA-10	07:30 desc															X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MSU		4 - fair	NOAA-11	14:10 asc																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MSU		4 - fair	NOAA-12	05:10 desc																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MSU		4 - fair	NOAA-13	14:00 asc																						X
MSU		4 - fair	NOAA-14	09:30 desc																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MSU		4 - fair	TIROS-N	14:30 asc							X	X	X	X
MWR (AWS)	Yes	4 - fair	AWS-PFM	TBD																																																					X	X	X	X	X	X
MWR (AWS)		4 - fair	AWS	TBD																																																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MWTS-1		4 - fair	FY-3A	09:05 desc																																					X	X	X	X	X
MWTS-1		4 - fair	FY-3B	14:45 asc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SCAMS		4 - fair	Nimbus-6	12:00 desc				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/T		4 - fair	DMSP-F04	10:00 desc								X	X
SSM/T		4 - fair	DMSP-F07	10:10 desc												X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/T		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/T		4 - fair	DMSP-F09	09:30 desc																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/T		4 - fair	DMSP-F10	07:30 desc																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/T		4 - fair	DMSP-F11	05:00 desc																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/T		4 - fair	DMSP-F12	03:35 desc																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/T		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/T	No	4 - fair	DMSP-F14	05:00 desc																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SSM/T	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
AMSR		4 - fair	ADEOS-2	10:30 desc																															X	X
NEMS		4 - fair	Nimbus-5	12:00 desc	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
GLAS		5 - marginal	ICESat	94 °																																X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ATLAS		5 - marginal	ICESat-2	94 °																																															X	X	X	X	X	X

All instruments for measuring Melting layer depth in clouds

Instruments	Relevance	Operational limitations
DPR	1 - primary
PRM	1 - primary
PR	1 - primary
CPR (CloudSat)	1 - primary
CPR (Earth-CARE)	1 - primary
CATS	2 - very high
ACE Lidar	2 - very high
ACDL	2 - very high
CALIOP	2 - very high
ATLID	2 - very high
AMSU-A	3 - high
ATMS	3 - high
GeoSTAR	3 - high
MWS	3 - high
MWTS-2	3 - high
MWTS-3	3 - high
MTVZA	3 - high
MTVZA-GY	3 - high
MTVZA-GY-MP	3 - high
MTVZA-OK (MW)	3 - high
SSMIS	3 - high
MWI (MetOp-SG)	3 - high
MWRI-RM	3 - high
GEDI Lidar	3 - high
MOLI lidar	3 - high
VCL	3 - high
MSU	4 - fair
MWR (AWS)	4 - fair
MWTS-1	4 - fair
SCAMS	4 - fair
SSM/T	4 - fair
AMSR	4 - fair
NEMS	4 - fair
GLAS	5 - marginal
ATLAS	5 - marginal