Satellite-Derived ERS scatterometer sea-surface wind-stress curl in the southwestern Indian Ocean

Abstract

Surface marine wind data base from ERS-1 scatterometer has been processed to define the characteristic seasonal distribution of wind-stress curl throughout the southwestern Indian Ocean between January and December 1994. A compact model to obtain satellite-derived wind-stress curl fields on smaller scales than previously available is proposed and evaluated. The results indicate the strong capability of the ERS-1 scatterometer to monitor wind-driven variations in the mesoscale ocean patterns. To cite this article: M. Petit et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).