The Cross-Calibrated Multi-Platform (CCMP) Ocean Surface Wind Components (Atlas et al. 1996[1], 2008[2], 2009[3], 2011[4]) time series has been extended through 31 December 2010. This additional year of data extends the CCMP climate data record (CDR) to 23.5 years, starting on 1 July 1987.

Due to the loss of QuikSCAT's ability to retrieve wind vectors since 22 November 2009, the CCMP analysis through 2010 does not assimilate scatterometer vector wind data. Additionally, SSM/I data from DMSP F13 has been unavailable since 19 November 2009. To help make up for the loss of wind observations, CCMP has included the WindSat polarimetric radiometer wind speed data from Remote Sensing Systems (REMSS). SSM/I data from DMSP F17 have also been assimilated starting in 2010. It is worth noting that F17 and WindSat share a very close orbital ground track with a local time separation of approximately 28 minutes at the equator. This relatively close orbit proximity of F17 and WindSat results in more limited resolution of synoptic features.

The polarimetric microwave radiometer on WindSat stands apart from traditional radiometers in that it provides for the ability to retrieve both the speed and directional components of the ocean surface wind field which would alleviate the lack of vector wind observations from QuikSCAT. For this current release, the cross-calibrated Windsat wind speeds are assimilated into CCMP. Although there is no specific timetable, it is expected that an improved wind vector retrieval algorithm would make it feasible for future inclusion of the WindSat wind directions in the CCMP analysis.

To learn more and access the CCMP datasets, please visit our web portal: http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/datasetlist?ids=Collections&values=Cross-Calibrated+Multi-Platform+Ocean+Surface+Wind+Vector+Analysis+Fields


If you have any comments or questions, please email us at podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.gov.

Respectfully,
PO.DAAC User Services

References:
[1] Atlas, R., R.N. Hoffman, S.C. Bloom, J.C. Jusem, and J. Ardizzone, 1996: A multiyear global surface wind velocity dataset using SSM/I wind observations. BAMS, 77, 5, 869-882.

[2] Atlas R., Ardizzone J., Hoffman R.N., 2008: Application of satellite surface wind data to ocean wind analysis, Proc. SPIE, Vol. 7087, 70870B (2008); DOI:10.1117/12.795371.

[3] Atlas R., Hoffman R. N., Ardizzone J., Leidner S. M., Jusem J. C., 2009: Development of a new cross-calibrated, multi-platform (CCMP) ocean surface wind product. AMS 13th Conference on Integrated Observing and Assimilation Systems for Atmosphere, Oceans, and Land Surface (IOAS-AOLS)

[4] Atlas, R., R. N. Hoffman, J. Ardizzone, S. M. Leidner, J. C. Jusem, D. K. Smith, D. Gombos, 2011: A cross-calibrated, multiplatform ocean surface wind velocity product for meteorological and oceanographic applications. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 92, 157-174. doi: 10.1175/2010BAMS2946.1


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