On Friday, 18 September 2015, RapidScat echo power spontaneously increased by 20 dB, returning to its pre-anomaly level. Other anomaly signatures, such as scatterometer electronics current, also seem to have returned to their pre-anomaly values. This event corresponded in a return to nominal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which was first noticed on orbital rev number 5601. After subsequent data quality assessment, the RapidScat team commanded the instrument to return to its nominal attenuator setting on orbital rev 5614. Moving forward from orbital rev 5616, the L2B version 1.1 data have been processed consistently with pre-anomaly data corresponding with orbital revs 161 to 5063. Normal distribution of RapidScat science data to operational users has now resumed.
The RapidScat anomaly investigation team will continue to compare current data to the pre-August 14 data, and move forward in assessing potential causes of the reduced echo power in light of this new development.
The RapidScat calibration and validation team will continue to the review the data collected while the low echo power prevailed, as well as review the data now being produced. Cross-calibration with QuikSCAT data has resumed.
Concerned data users who are not currently registered with the PO.DAAC email list are encouraged to register to receive timely data announcement updates via email by contacting podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.gov.
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