Open AccessOn satellite scatterometer model functions
Author(s) -
Brown R. A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000jd900529
Subject(s) - scatterometer , buoy , backscatter (email) , geostrophic wind , geology , satellite , meteorology , surface pressure , sea surface height , remote sensing , wind speed , geodesy , geophysics , environmental science , sea surface temperature , climatology , geography , physics , computer science , oceanography , telecommunications , astronomy , wireless
Satellite scatterometer model functions are the empirical correlations between observed backscatter and geophysical parameters. One problem is the choice of “surface truth” for the latter. Currently, buoy data and general circulation model surface analyses have been used to establish 10 m neutrally stratified wind model functions. The correlation between backscatter and surface winds has been the foundation of the scatterometers. The backscatter is anisotropic with respect to wind direction, allowing wind direction information to be derived from multiple looks at the same patch of ocean. Here the evolution of a model function for the pressure gradient (hence surface geostrophic wind) is given. The European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts surface pressure analyses are used to establish the pressure‐based model function. There are limitations and advantages to both geophysical data sets.