Wind specification based on Seasat A satellite scatterometer and conventional winds for driving an ocean wave model

Abstract

This study examines the utility of remotely sensed Seasat A satellite scatterometer (SASS) winds for driving a spectral ocean wave model. The SASS winds are integrated with the conventional ship winds using an objective analysis scheme which employs the method of successive correction, modified to account for the variable data density, data quality, and the application of an elliptical weighting function. The analyzed winds are produced initially on a Cartesian grid over the North Atlantic and are then transformed onto a spherical orthogonal grid for input to a spectral ocean wave model. The model products are examined and validated against the observed ship and remotely sensed wave data to assess the impact of SASS winds on ocean wave analysis and modeling. Our study demonstrates that the integration of SASS winds into the wind analyses can provide improved wind inputs for validating wave models in a hindcast mode. The model wave heights when validated against the comparison data show a reduction in the root mean square error of up to 25% with the assimilation of SASS winds in the wind analyses. The ultimate goal of this study is to develop suitable algorithms for incorporating satellite‐sensed wind and wave data into operational ocean wave models.