CYGNSS Level 3: Daily Ocean Wind Speed and Surface Slope Data

NASA's CYGNSS satellite constellation provides a daily Climate Data Record of ocean surface wind speed and mean square slope on a 0.2x0.2 degree grid. Version 1.2 data, derived from Level 1 SDR v3.1, features improved calibration accuracy and long-term stability using a trackwise correction algorithm. A single netCDF-4 file is produced for each day with an approximate 5-day latency.

Use Cases

• Modeling ocean surface wind patterns based on daily average wind speed data
• Analyzing sea surface roughness based on mean square slope (MSS) measurements
• Calibrating satellite remote sensing instruments based on the trackwise correction algorithm details
• Studying long-term climate trends based on the reanalysis product's improved stability

Strengths

• Data is produced daily on a 0.2x0.2 degree latitude/longitude grid
• Version 1.2 exhibits improved calibration accuracy and long-term stability relative to SDR v3.1
• Algorithm details are provided in a Trackwise Corrected CDR Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• The trackwise correction algorithm cannot be applied to all SDR v3.1 L1 data, resulting in some loss of samples

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data are derived from the Delay Doppler Mapping Instrument aboard the CYGNSS satellite constellation and processed into a Level 3 Climate Data Record.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 03:24:37.682808; freshness should be verified

Geography

Global ocean coverage, determined by specular points corresponding to Delay Doppler Maps.