Open AccessThe impact of NSCAT winds on predicting the 1997/1998 El Niño: A case study with the Lamont‐Doherty Earth Observatory model
Author(s) -
Chen Dake,
Cane Mark A.,
Zebiak Stephen E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/98jc02543
Subject(s) - scatterometer , observatory , initialization , satellite , meteorology , environmental science , geology , earth observation satellite , climatology , remote sensing , wind speed , computer science , physics , astronomy , programming language
Using the NASA scatterometer (NSCAT) winds for initialization has greatly improved the Lamont‐Doherty Earth Observatory model forecasts of the 1997/1998 E1 Niño. The improvement is mostly attributed to the better resolved wind field in the southeast tropical Pacific. Because of the simplicity of the model and the short record of the NSCAT data, our model results should be taken as indicative rather than conclusive. Nevertheless, it is crucial to assimilate accurate information into the initial model state to predict the development of E1 Niño. Satellite‐derived wind products certainly have the potential to provide such information for real‐time forecasting.