Directional distribution of wind vectors observed by QuikSCAT/SeaWinds

Naoto Ebuchi

doi:10.1117/12.410587

21 December 2000 Directional distribution of wind vectors observed by QuikSCAT/SeaWinds

Naoto Ebuchi

Proceedings Volume 4152, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment II; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410587
Event: Second International Asia-Pacific Symposium on Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Environment, and Space, 2000, Sendai, Japan

Abstract

In order to validate wind vectors observed by QuikSCAT (QSCAT)/SeaWinds, statistical distributions of wind directions are investigated by comparison with those from numerical weather prediction wind analyses. Frequency distribution of wind directions relative to spacecraft flight direction is calculated form the QSCAT data for a period of two months to assess the self-consistency of the wind directions. It is found that the QSCAT wind vectors exhibit systematic directional preference relative to antenna beams, which is very similar to that found in the NASA Scatterometer (NSCAT) winds Sharp spikes are discernible in the directional distributions and azimuth location of the spikes varies with cross-track cell location reflecting azimuth angle combination of scatterometer beams. The variation of azimuth location of the spikes is interpreted by using a simple model which examines effects of errors in the geophysical model function on the retrieved winds. It is concluded that the artificial directivities are caused by imperfections in the geophysical model function used to retrieve the wind vectors.

Citation Download Citation

Naoto Ebuchi "Directional distribution of wind vectors observed by QuikSCAT/SeaWinds", Proc. SPIE 4152, Microwave Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Environment II, (21 December 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410587

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