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Monitoring of the Geo-physical and Bio-geo-physical parameters of the global oceans at meso-scales is an important
aspect of the Space borne Earth Remote sensing for weather forecasting and climatic studies. ISRO has initiated action in
this direction by launching the IRS-P4 satellite in May 1999 which carried two instruments, an Ocean Colour Monitor
(OCM) and a Multi-frequency Scanning Microwave Radiometer (MSMR). These payloads provided valuable data over
Indian ocean with limited global coverage for many applications like PFZ, SST, water vapour content, monsoon
forecasting etc,. The Oceansat-2 Mission will provide continuity of services of IRS-P4 with enhanced application
potential. It will carry a Ku-Band pencil beam Scatterometer for global wind vector measurements and OCM with
optimized spectral characteristics. The Satellite is configured to support these Payloads operation covering the global
oceans with a two-day repetevity. While meeting the continued demand of its present data users, the OCM will have
several enhanced applications in the areas of Chlorophyll concentration and primary productivity, suspended
sedimentation dynamics, Carbon cycle monitoring, marine pollutants/oil slicks etc,. The Ku-band Scatterometer will
cover ~ 97% of the global oceans daily and will provide measurements of surface wind vectors. This data will be a
major input for the local weather forecasting and NWP models. The Scatterometer data is also used for sea state
forecasting and ocean dynamics, monitoring of extreme events like cyclones/hurricanes, Polar Ice studies etc,. In this
paper, a brief description of the Payload Instruments, Satellite Mainframe elements, Mission operations plan and typical
applications are covered.
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