TOWARDS A CLIMATE DATA RECORD OF SATELLITE OCEAN VECTOR WINDS

A Climate Data Record of ocean surface winds is very valuable for climate research, as surface winds are key drivers of oceanic and atmospheric processes which regulate global and regional climate. However, producing a climate-quality global dataset of ocean surface winds by combining observations from different satellites is a very challenging task. Here we present a methodology ideal for merging different dataset to produce a Climate Data Record of ocean surface winds. Our first step has been the reprocessing of the wind vectors from the scatterometer QuikSCAT, which operated from 1999 to 2009. The QuikSCAT were reprocessed by using a new model function developed to improve retrievals at high wind speeds. QuikSCAT winds will serve as a backbone for our Climate Data Record. Our next step is to apply the same methodology and calibration method to the winds from the European scatterometer ASCAT, which started in 2007.