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QuikSCAT reveals the surface circulation of the Catalina Eddy
Author(s) -
Hu Hua,
Liu W. Timothy
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2001gl014203
Subject(s) - scatterometer , meteorology , environmental science , vortex , geology , climatology , spacecraft , ocean current , flow (mathematics) , eddy , general circulation model , turbulence , wind speed , oceanography , aerospace engineering , geography , physics , climate change , mechanics , engineering
The Catalina Eddy, a small, recurring cyclonic vortex in the ocean off Los Angeles, is of keen interest to local weather forecasters because of the moderating oceanic effect it brings to the city. Its small size and shallow vertical extent have made it difficult to monitor and predict using conventional data. The microwave scatterometer on the QuikSCAT spacecraft has generated high‐resolution surface wind vectors that provide the first visualization of the complete cyclonic flow of the eddy. Moreover, the superior performance of the QuikSCAT scatterometer demonstrates the relative inaccuracy and inconsistency of predictions of the eddy based upon numerical weather prediction models.