IN32A-08
Impact of Scatterometer Ocean Wind Vector Data on NOAA Operations

Wednesday, 16 December 2015: 12:05
2020 (Moscone West)
Zorana Jelenak, NOAA College Park, College Park, MD, United States, Paul Chang, NOAA Science Center, College Park, MD, United States, Michael J Brennan, NOAA/NWS/NCEP/National Hurricane Center, Miami, FL, United States and Joseph M Sienkiewicz, NOAA/National Weather Service, Camp Springs, MD, United States
Abstract:
Near real-time measurements of ocean surface vector winds (OSVW), including both wind speed and direction from non-NOAA satellites, are being widely used in critical operational NOAA forecasting and warning activities. The scatterometer wind data data have had major operational impact in:

a) determining wind warning areas for mid-latitude systems (gale, storm,hurricane force);

b) determining tropical cyclone 34-knot and 50-knot wind radii.

c) tracking the center location of tropical cyclones, including the initial identification of their formation.

d) identifying and warning of extreme gap and jet wind events at all latitudes.

e) identifying the current location of frontal systems and high and low pressure centers.

f) improving coastal surf and swell forecasts

Much has been learned about the importance and utility of satellite OSVW data in operational weather forecasting and warning by exploiting OSVW research satellites in near real-time. Since December 1999 when first data from QuikSCAT scatterometer became available in near real time NOAA operations have been benefiting from ASCAT scatterometer observations on MetOp-A and B, Indian OSCAT scatterometer on OceanSat-3 and lately NASA’s RapidScat mission on International Space Station. With oceans comprising over 70 percent of the earth’s surface, the impacts of these data have been tremendous in serving society’s needs for weather and water information and in supporting the nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation and coastal preparedness. The satellite OSVW experience that has been gained over the past decade by users in the operational weather community allows for realistic operational OSVW requirements to be properly stated for future missions.

Successful model of transitioning research data into operation implemented by Ocean Winds Team in NOAA’s NESDIS/STAR office and subsequent data impacts will be presented and discussed.

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