Earth Explorer 11 candidate mission Wivern

Wivern is an Earth Explorer 11 candidate mission. Wivern is short for wind velocity radar nephoscope – would provide the first measurements of wind within clouds and precipitation systems. It would also deliver profiles of rain, snow and ice water. Carrying a dual-polarisation, conically scanning, 94 GHz Doppler radar with an 800 km swath, the mission would improve forecasts of hazardous weather and provide new insights into severe storms. It would also contribute to the climate record of cloud and precipitation profiling.