Hurricane Wind Vector Estimates from WindSat Polarimetric Radiometer

Abstract

WindSat is the world's first microwave polarimetric radiometer, designed to measure ocean vector winds. In late 2004, the first preliminary oceanic wind vector results were released, and this paper presents the first evaluation of this product for several Atlantic hurricanes during the 2003 season. Both wind speed and wind direction comparisons will be made with surface wind analysis (H*Wind) developed by the NOAA Hurricane Research Division (HRD) and provided by the NOAA National Hurricane Center (NHC). Examples are presented where HRD aircraft flights were conducted within several hours of the WindSat overpass. These H*Wind surface wind analyses provide the most complete independent surface winds comparison data set available. Both WindSat retrieved wind speeds and wind directions are evaluated (against H*Wind) as a function of storm quadrant. To complement the analysis, rain rates were derived using WindSat brightness temperatures with a modified version of the TMI 2A12 heritage rain algorithm. Effects of rain on the derived wind speeds and directions are discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 25, 2005
Accession Number
ADA453792

Entities

People

  • Christopther C. Hennon
  • Ian S. Adams
  • Khalil Ahmad
  • W. L. Jones

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Circular Polarization
  • Climate Change
  • Hurricanes
  • Measurement
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Military Research
  • Polarization
  • Radiometers
  • Remote Sensing
  • Sea Surface Temperature
  • Storms
  • Surface Temperature
  • Tropical Cyclones
  • Wind Direction

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology