Chapter 4 Oceanic Surface Winds

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a brief review of radar backscatter that provides a foundation to the satellite approach. The vicissitudes of the marine surface wind field is discussed with explanation of how it is affected by varying degrees of surface roughness and thermodynamic influences. Mechanism for measurement of surface wind speed using microwave systems is explained. Concepts related to the marine surface boundary layer are elaborated. Results of a global data assimilation experiment using 2 days (July 16, OOZ-July 18, OOZ, 1978) of real global scatterometer winds from Seasat-A are presented. These experiments were designed to give a preliminary assessment of the impact of SASS winds on the operational numerical weather analysis and forecasting system used at the National Meteorological Center (NMC). The alias-removal scheme used to obtain the most nearly correct direction from the SASS data is elaborated. Some history is provided regarding the development of algorithms, and an evaluation of the effect on a numerical atmospheric circulation model of inclusion of satellite data in the standard data base is discussed.

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