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 observing technique (lidar altimeter, radar altimeter or SAR); the large-swath capability; the exploited frequency. RATING CRITERIA:
1	Multi-beam lidar altimeter Nadir-only lidar altimeter
2	Radar altimeter with along-track SAR capability
3	Large-swath radar altimeter
4	X- and possibly Ku-band SAR C-band SAR
5	L- and/or S band SAR

Measurement timeline for Sea-ice thickness

Definition:

Thickness of the ice sheet. It is related to sea-ice elevation and ice density

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

Found 91 results

This table has a large number of results.

Hide lower rated instruments

Hide inactive instruments

Instrument	NRT?	Relevance	Satellite	Orbit	1978	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
GEDI Lidar		1 - primary	ISS GEDI	51.6 °																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
MOLI lidar		1 - primary	ISS MOLI	51.6 °																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
GLAS		1 - primary	ICESat	94 °																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ATLAS		1 - primary	ICESat-2	94 °																																			X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-4		2 - very high	Sentinel-6A	66 °																																					X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Poseidon-4		2 - very high	Sentinel-6B	66 °																																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL	Yes	2 - very high	Sentinel-3A	10:00 desc																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL	Yes	2 - very high	Sentinel-3B	10:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL		2 - very high	Sentinel-3C	10:00 desc																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SRAL		2 - very high	Sentinel-3D	10:00 desc																																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SIRAL		2 - very high	CryoSat	92 °																						X
SIRAL	No	2 - very high	CryoSat-2	92 °																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
KaRIN		3 - high	SWOT	78 °																																							X	X	X	X	X
SWIM		3 - high	CFOSAT	07:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X
SWIM		3 - high	CFOSAT follow-on	07:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
SHIOSAI		3 - high	COMPIRA	51 °																																							X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		4 - fair	Meteor-MP N1	15:30 asc																																										X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		4 - fair	Meteor-MP N2	09:30 desc																																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		4 - fair	Obzor-R N1	TBD																																								X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		4 - fair	Obzor-R N2	TBD																																									X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		4 - fair	Obzor-R N3	TBD																																										X	X	X	X	X	X
BRLK “Briz”		4 - fair	Obzor-R N4	TBD																																												X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Capella SAR		4 - fair	Capella	10:30 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
COSI		4 - fair	KOMPSAT-5	06:00 asc																														X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
COSI		4 - fair	KOMPSAT-6	06:00 asc																																							X	X	X	X	X
CSG-SAR		4 - fair	CSG-1	06:00 asc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
CSG-SAR		4 - fair	CSG-2	06:00 asc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X
HRWS-SAR		4 - fair	HRWS-SAR	06:00 desc																																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ICEYE SAR		4 - fair	ICEYE	TBD																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MeteoSAR		4 - fair	Meteor-M N2-3	09:00 desc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X
MeteoSAR		4 - fair	Meteor-M N2-4	15:00 asc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
MeteoSAR		4 - fair	Meteor-M N2-5	15:00 desc																																									X	X	X	X	X	X
MeteoSAR		4 - fair	Meteor-M N2-6	09:00 asc																																										X	X	X	X	X	X
RLSBO		4 - fair	Okean-O-1	82.5 °																X	X
RLSBO		4 - fair	Okean-O1-1	82.5 °			X	X	X
RLSBO		4 - fair	Okean-O1-2	82.5 °				X	X	X
RLSBO		4 - fair	Okean-O1-3	82.5 °					X	X	X
RLSBO		4 - fair	Okean-O1-4	82.5 °						X
RLSBO		4 - fair	Okean-O1-5	82.5 °							X	X	X
RLSBO		4 - fair	Okean-O1-6	82.5 °								X	X	X
RLSBO		4 - fair	Okean-O1-7	82.5 °											X	X	X
RLSBO		4 - fair	SICH-1	82.5 °												X	X	X	X	X	X	X
RLSBO		4 - fair	SICH-1M	82.5 °																					X	X	X
SAR-2000	No	4 - fair	CSK-1	06:00 asc																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-2000	No	4 - fair	CSK-2	06:00 asc																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-2000	No	4 - fair	CSK-3	06:00 asc																									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-2000	No	4 - fair	CSK-4	06:00 asc																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-X		4 - fair	TanDEM-X	06:00 desc																											X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-X		4 - fair	TerraSAR-X	06:00 desc																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-X (Paz (SEOSAR))		4 - fair	SEOSAR/Paz	06:00 asc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
Severjanin-M		4 - fair	Meteor-M N1	09:30 desc																										X	X	X	X
Severjanin-M		4 - fair	Meteor-M N2	09:30 asc																															X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Severjanin-M		4 - fair	Meteor-M N2-1	15:09 asc																																		X
W-SAR		4 - fair	HY-3A	06:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
W-SAR		4 - fair	HY-3B	06:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
XSAR		4 - fair	ASNARO-2	06:00 desc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
AMI-SAR		4 - fair	ERS-1	10:30 desc								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
AMI-SAR		4 - fair	ERS-2	10:30 desc												X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
ASAR		4 - fair	Envisat	10:00 desc																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR (RadarSat-1)		4 - fair	RadarSat-1	06:00 desc												X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR (RadarSat-1)	No	4 - fair	RadarSat-2	06:00 desc																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR RCM		4 - fair	RCM-1	06:00 desc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR RCM		4 - fair	RCM-2	06:00 desc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR RCM		4 - fair	RCM-3	06:00 desc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (GF-3)		4 - fair	GF-3	06:00 desc																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (GF-3)		4 - fair	GF-12	06:00 desc																																				X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (GF-3)		4 - fair	GF-12-02	06:00 desc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (GF-3)		4 - fair	GF-3-02	06:00 desc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (RISAT)		4 - fair	RISAT-1	06:00 desc																													X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (RISAT)		4 - fair	EOS 04	06:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)	No	4 - fair	Sentinel-1A	06:00 desc																															X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)		4 - fair	Sentinel-1B	06:00 desc																																	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)	No	4 - fair	Sentinel-1C	06:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)	No	4 - fair	Sentinel-1D	06:00 desc																																								X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-Travers		5 - marginal	Resurs-O1-1	10:15 asc		X	X
S-SAR		5 - marginal	NovaSAR-S	10:30 asc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-10		5 - marginal	Kondor-E1	74.75 °																															X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-10		5 - marginal	Kondor-E	74.75 °																														X	X
SAR-S		5 - marginal	HJ-1C	06:00 desc																													X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-S (NISAR)		5 - marginal	NI-SAR	06:00 desc																																								X	X	X	X
L-SAR		5 - marginal	Tandem-L	06:00 desc																																									X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
PALSAR		5 - marginal	ALOS	10:30 desc																							X	X	X	X	X	X
PALSAR-2	No	5 - marginal	ALOS-2	12:00 desc																															X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
PALSAR-3		5 - marginal	ALOS-4	12:00 desc																																							X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR		5 - marginal	SeaSat	108 °	X
SAR (JERS)		5 - marginal	JERS	10:45 desc									X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L		5 - marginal	SAOCOM-1A	06:00 asc																																			X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L		5 - marginal	SAOCOM-1B	06:00 asc																																					X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L		5 - marginal	SAOCOM-2A	06:00 asc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L		5 - marginal	SAOCOM-2B	06:00 asc																																						X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
SAR-L (NISAR)		5 - marginal	NI-SAR	06:00 desc																																								X	X	X	X

All instruments for measuring Sea-ice thickness

Instruments	Relevance	Operational limitations
GEDI Lidar	1 - primary
MOLI lidar	1 - primary
VCL	1 - primary
GLAS	1 - primary
ATLAS	1 - primary
Poseidon-4	2 - very high
SRAL	2 - very high
SIRAL	2 - very high
IRIS (CRISTAL)	3 - high
KaRIN	3 - high
SWIM	3 - high
SHIOSAI	3 - high
SAR-X/Ku	4 - fair
BRLK “Briz”	4 - fair
Capella SAR	4 - fair
COSI	4 - fair
CSG-SAR	4 - fair
HRWS-SAR	4 - fair
ICEYE SAR	4 - fair
MeteoSAR	4 - fair
RLSBO	4 - fair
SAR-2000	4 - fair
SAR-X	4 - fair
SAR-X (Paz (SEOSAR))	4 - fair
Severjanin-M	4 - fair
W-SAR	4 - fair
XSAR	4 - fair
AMI-SAR	4 - fair
ASAR	4 - fair
SAR (RadarSat-1)	4 - fair
SAR RCM	4 - fair
SAR-C (GF-3)	4 - fair
SAR-C (RISAT)	4 - fair
SAR-C (Sentinel-1)	4 - fair
SAR-Travers	5 - marginal
S-SAR	5 - marginal
SAR-10	5 - marginal
SAR-S	5 - marginal
SAR-S (NISAR)	5 - marginal
InSAR	5 - marginal
L-SAR	5 - marginal
PALSAR	5 - marginal
PALSAR-2	5 - marginal
PALSAR-3	5 - marginal
ROSE-L	5 - marginal
SAR	5 - marginal
SAR (JERS)	5 - marginal
SAR-L	5 - marginal
SAR-L (NISAR)	5 - marginal