NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) global ocean surface winds are determined from sigma-naught backscatter. JPL has provided the data, and the satellite provided only a short archive (1996sep-1997jun) before failure. The near surface wind speeds were determined with the NSCAT-1 model function.

Several forms of NSCAT data are available.

• Level 2B orbit swath data.
• 0.5-degree by 0.5-degree 2x daily gridded fields, 75S to 75N.
• In July 1998 a collection of 11 CD-ROMs containing the Level 2(50km), Level 3 (daily average), and Level 2(25km) NSCAT were received and archived in the DSS CD-ROM collection. These CD's have a full collection of documentation, read access software, browse images, and ancillary information.