Improved windfield retrieval for low and high windspeeds
Using scatterometer data from ERS-1 the authors have shown that realistic wind fields may be obtained with the VIERS scatterometer algorithm. The VIERS algorithm determines for given parameters such as wind speed and direction, air-sea temperature, sea state and radar incidence angle, the radar backscatter at the ocean surface. Thus, by inverting the algorithm the wind field over the ocean may be determined from the observed radar backscatter provided the sea state (given by the WAM model) is known. The inversion of the algorithm was achieved by means of minimization of a cost function that penalizes deviations between modeled and observed radar backscatter and deviations between retrieved and atmospheric model wind direction. The retrieved wind fields are in good agreement with analyzed ECMWF winds. Compared to the present operational CMOD4 algorithm the authors found that the VIERS algorithm performs better in extreme conditions; in the high wind speed regime wind waves are in a relatively early stage of development and are therefore so steep that the radar backscatter from the short waves is affected. From a synoptic study, the authors have concluded that the VIERS winds are of high quality. The VIERS algorithm performs well in cases of frontal systems, for example, and only occasionally problems with the wind direction (the ambiguity problem) occur. The end result is that the authors have developed a scatterometer algorithm based on their present knowledge of the physics of the relevant processes. From the observed radar backscatter this algorithm enables them to obtain reliable wind fields.
- OSTI ID:
- 395061
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9509371--; ISBN 0-8194-1950-8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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