Intra-decadal variability in the Ekman heat flux from scatterometer winds

Mesoscale winds from the new ASCAT scatterometer

Introduction satellite based scatterometers provide high resolution all-weather wind vector fields over the seas. Wind speed and wind direction are provided at high accuracy under all weather conditions. The allweather EsA ERs scatterometer observations have proven its significant impact for the forecasting of fast developing and severe weather. Moreover, scatterometer wind fields are provided ...

The Wavenumber Spectra of Scatterometer-derived Winds

Spaceborne scatterometers are the only proven method for global all-weather measurement of vector winds at the ocean’s surface. Such measurements are critical inputs in studies of oceanic circulation and air/seainteraction where the time variability of the surface wind field and the wind stress curl drive the ocean; hence, our interest in the spectrum of the surface wind field. In this paper we...

Variability in soil heat flux from a mesquite dune site

For many natural and agricultural landscapes, vegetation partially covers the ground surface, resulting in significant variations in soil heat flux between interspace areas and underneath vegetation. This is particularly apparent in arid and semiarid regions where vegetation cover is low and clustered or ‘clumped’ with large areas of exposed soil. Surface heterogeneity presents significant chal...

Objectively-Derived Daily "Winds" From Satellite Scatterometer Data

Quality Control of Ku-band scatterometer winds