SeaWinds QuikSCAT: Ocean Wind Speed and Direction from Satellite

From July 1999 to June 2002, the SeaWinds instrument on the QuikSCAT satellite measured near-surface wind speed and direction over approximately 90% of the ice-free ocean at a 25 km resolution. These data were processed by Remote Sensing Systems using the improved Ku-2001 geophysical model function for more accurate high-wind retrievals. The dataset time series ends in 2002, though continuing data are available from the provider.

Use Cases

• Validate and calibrate numerical weather prediction models based on global ocean wind measurements.
• Study extreme weather events and storm dynamics based on high-wind speed retrievals (>30 m/s).
• Analyze long-term wind climatology and variability over the ice-free ocean.
• Investigate air-sea interaction processes and energy transfer based on wind speed and direction data.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage over approximately 90% of the ice-free ocean.
• Uses the improved Ku-2001 model for more accurate retrievals of high winds (greater than 30 m/s).
• Offers a consistent time series from a known start date (19 July 1999).

Limitations

• Dataset time series ends in June 2002; freshness should be verified.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• A 2006 notice indicates reprocessing with superior algorithms could affect this dataset.

Provenance

Source

Remote Sensing Systems (RSS), derived from the SeaWinds instrument on the NASA QuikSCAT satellite.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via scatterometer radar, processed using the Ku-2001 geophysical model function.

Time Range

1999-07-19 to 2002-06

Freshness

Last updated 2009-04-30 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Global, ice-free ocean surfaces.