QuikSCAT: Ocean Surface Wind Vectors at 12.5km Resolution

Version 3 reprocessed Level 2B science-quality ocean surface wind vector retrievals from the QuikSCAT scatterometer are provided on a non-uniform grid at 12.5 km pixel resolution. This version incorporates several improvements, including changes to measurement binning to reduce noise, an improved geophysical model function, a neural network for rain correction, and removal of cross-track wind speed biases. The dataset is produced by the QuikSCAT Project through the SeaWinds Processing and Analysis Center (SeaPAC).

Use Cases

• Improving numerical weather prediction models by assimilating high-resolution ocean wind vector data.
• Studying air-sea interaction processes and energy transfer using the 12.5 km resolution wind retrievals.
• Analyzing wind patterns for maritime navigation and offshore operations based on the swath-based orbital data.
• Correcting rain-contaminated wind speed estimates using the neural network approach described in the processing.

Strengths

• Provides science-quality wind vector retrievals at a high 12.5 km pixel resolution, enabling observations 10 km closer to shore than previous 25 km versions.
• Version 3 processing includes specific improvements: an improved geophysical model function, a neural network for rain correction, and removal of cross-track wind speed biases.
• Dataset is the official product from the QuikSCAT Project and SeaPAC, indicating an authoritative processing chain.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, file size, and specific column names are not provided on any platform, limiting initial assessment of data structure.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' metadata, with dates ranging from 2009 to 2026 across different platform entries, casting doubt on the maintenance status.
• Documentation, while referenced, is external, requiring users to follow links to understand the full data format and processing algorithms.

Provenance

Source

QuikSCAT Project, SeaWinds Processing and Analysis Center (SeaPAC), NASA

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the QuikSCAT scatterometer, with Level 2B processing of backscatter data.

Freshness

2026-04-09 23:11:16.817781

Geography

Global ocean surface coverage within the instrument's swath.