Why does rapid scan tend to skip (or jump)?

[whereverwx]

It was clearly visible on Isabel, as seen here:



Why does this happen? Is this a satellite's way of cooling down after it takes several images? Or is this just natural and unalterable?

[Margie]

Re: Why does rapid scan tend to skip (or jump)?

It was clearly visible on Isabel, as seen here:



Why does this happen? Is this a satellite's way of cooling down after it takes several images? Or is this just natural and unalterable?

Did you try doing some web searches on this topic? There may be a schedule or something for the various scans, including SRSO, or some other reason it can't scan continuously beyond so many minutes.

[whereverwx]

Re: Why does rapid scan tend to skip (or jump)?

It was clearly visible on Isabel, as seen here:



Why does this happen? Is this a satellite's way of cooling down after it takes several images? Or is this just natural and unalterable?

Did you try doing some web searches on this topic? There may be a schedule or something for the various scans, including SRSO, or some other reason it can't scan continuously beyond so many minutes.

Nope, I have not performed any searches on it, as of yet. But I'm sure when I do, I will be able to find the answer.

[senorpepr]

Here's the story (or as much of it as I know off hand)...

Whenever the satellite is in rapid fire (5-15 minutes between images) or super rapid fire (1 minute images), the resolution is increased. Because of this increase in resolution, the "viewing window" is decreased.

Now... if a hurricane, like Isabel, is out in the Atlantic, by turning the satellite to super rapid, the satellite zooms into the system and no longer provides imagery for the US. That is why you see a few images in both super and regular rapid fire, followed by a regular image at :15 and :45 past the hour... to get the needed satellite data for the eastern half of the US.

[whereverwx]

Here's the story (or as much of it as I know off hand)...

Whenever the satellite is in rapid fire (5-15 minutes between images) or super rapid fire (1 minute images), the resolution is increased. Because of this increase in resolution, the "viewing window" is decreased.

Now... if a hurricane, like Isabel, is out in the Atlantic, by turning the satellite to super rapid, the satellite zooms into the system and no longer provides imagery for the US. That is why you see a few images in both super and regular rapid fire, followed by a regular image at :15 and :45 past the hour... to get the needed satellite data for the eastern half of the US.

That makes perfect sense now. Thanks for clearing that up!

[P.K.]

Whenever the satellite is in rapid fire (5-15 minutes between images) or super rapid fire (1 minute images), the resolution is increased. Because of this increase in resolution, the "viewing window" is decreased.

That would require the antenna size to be increased. Is this really possible with a satellite in orbit? (Or looking at a smaller wave length) The beamwidth surely needs to be decreased for a smaller foot print.

Surely as it is concentrating on one area it doesn't have enough time to scan the entire globe?

Edit - If by resolution you mean frequency then I agree with you.

[MGC]

The sat does a full disk twice an hour. In between the full disk scans it has time to do the rapid scans on areas of interest.....MGC