Ocean Surface Winds Derived from the SSM/I Radiometer(s)

This page includes previous day's data. For current data, click here

The following map displays the ocean surface winds at a height of 19.5m calculated from the previous days ascending and descending satellite passes. The SSM/I brightness temperatures used are those calculated by the Navy at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC). The wind speed algorithm used was developed by Goodberlet et al., and expresses the wind speed, WS, in meters/second as

WS=147.90+1.0969*TB19v-0.4555*TB22v-1.7600*TB37v+0.7860*TB37h

where, TB is the radiometric brightness temperature at the frequencies and polarizations indicated. All data where TB37v-TB37hr < 50 or TB19h > 165 was rain flagged. The map below has been divided into 30x20 degree bins for closer examination between latitudes 60N to 60S and longitudes 180W to 180E. Just click on the desired geographical location and hopefully a closer look will be provided. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

This data is considered to be of research quality, and the presented wind speed quantities should not be considered absolute. In storms with high wind gradients, the wind speed values will be underestimated. Additionally, the rain flag used above will not necessarily detect all precipitation events.

I have used to strictest rain flag to yield wind speeds within 2m/s.
Please let me know if there is interest in other rain flags.

Ascending Pass

Descending Pass