108
W.T. Liu et al.
high latitudes. Liu et al. (2008b) demonstrated that the combination of the three
sensors brings the revisit interval close to 6 h from equator to the pole, meeting
the 6 hourly operational NWP requirement and the inertial frequency required by
the oceanographers. Because the scatterometer on Oceansat-2 has similar design
as QuikSCAT, the transportability of GMF-S developed for QuikSCAT to a wellcalibrated Oceansat-2 scatterometer could be tested. China is planning to launch
a Ku-band scatterometer similar to QuikSCAT on the Haiyang-2 mission in 2011.
Its sampling characteristic is expected to be very similar to QuikSCAT (see Liu
et al., 2008b).
6.7 Discussions
It is insufficient to view the distribution of ocean surface stress by deriving it only
from wind field through traditional drag coefficient. The overall large-scale difference between directly retrieved stress and stress derived from U N may not be
large, but the regional differences are significant. Our preliminary studies show
the feasibility of developing a prototype GMF-S to retrieve stress from QuikSCAT
observations, which we intended to proceed expeditiously when support becomes
available. Processing of QuikSCAT observations for a decade long of continuous
and consistent ocean surface stress field would enable the science community for
new applications from a new perspective.
QuikSCAT is operating far beyond its expected life span and may fail at anytime. The transportability of such model function to a similar sensor is important.
With a follow-on mission to QuikSCAT not yet confirmed, the Indian and Chinese
components of a scatterometer constellation become all the more important, not
only to improve the sampling of ocean surface wind and stress, but also to meet the
contingency of filling any data gap.
Not all spacebased ocean surface wind and stress measurements are comparable
in quality. Standardizing the technology requirements for observation accuracies
of different research and operational applications and international cooperation
are very desirable. Many scientific reports have affirmed the need of high quality, continuous, and consistent long time-series of ocean surface wind and stress
vectors.
Acknowledgements This study was performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California
Institute of Technology, under contract with the US National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA). It was jointly supported by the Ocean Vector Winds and the Physical
Oceanography Programs of NASA.
References
Bourassa MA, Vincent DG, Wood WL (1999) A flux parameterization including the effects of
capillary waves and sea state. J Atmos Sci 56:1123–1139
Chao Y, Li Z, Farrara J, McWilliams JC, Bellingham J, Capet X, Chavez F, Choi JK, Davis
R, Doyle J, Frantaoni D, Li PP, Marchesiello P, Moline MA, Paduan J, Ramp S (2009)
W.T. Liu et al.
high latitudes. Liu et al. (2008b) demonstrated that the combination of the three
sensors brings the revisit interval close to 6 h from equator to the pole, meeting
the 6 hourly operational NWP requirement and the inertial frequency required by
the oceanographers. Because the scatterometer on Oceansat-2 has similar design
as QuikSCAT, the transportability of GMF-S developed for QuikSCAT to a wellcalibrated Oceansat-2 scatterometer could be tested. China is planning to launch
a Ku-band scatterometer similar to QuikSCAT on the Haiyang-2 mission in 2011.
Its sampling characteristic is expected to be very similar to QuikSCAT (see Liu
et al., 2008b).
6.7 Discussions
It is insufficient to view the distribution of ocean surface stress by deriving it only
from wind field through traditional drag coefficient. The overall large-scale difference between directly retrieved stress and stress derived from U N may not be
large, but the regional differences are significant. Our preliminary studies show
the feasibility of developing a prototype GMF-S to retrieve stress from QuikSCAT
observations, which we intended to proceed expeditiously when support becomes
available. Processing of QuikSCAT observations for a decade long of continuous
and consistent ocean surface stress field would enable the science community for
new applications from a new perspective.
QuikSCAT is operating far beyond its expected life span and may fail at anytime. The transportability of such model function to a similar sensor is important.
With a follow-on mission to QuikSCAT not yet confirmed, the Indian and Chinese
components of a scatterometer constellation become all the more important, not
only to improve the sampling of ocean surface wind and stress, but also to meet the
contingency of filling any data gap.
Not all spacebased ocean surface wind and stress measurements are comparable
in quality. Standardizing the technology requirements for observation accuracies
of different research and operational applications and international cooperation
are very desirable. Many scientific reports have affirmed the need of high quality, continuous, and consistent long time-series of ocean surface wind and stress
vectors.
Acknowledgements This study was performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California
Institute of Technology, under contract with the US National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA). It was jointly supported by the Ocean Vector Winds and the Physical
Oceanography Programs of NASA.
References
Bourassa MA, Vincent DG, Wood WL (1999) A flux parameterization including the effects of
capillary waves and sea state. J Atmos Sci 56:1123–1139
Chao Y, Li Z, Farrara J, McWilliams JC, Bellingham J, Capet X, Chavez F, Choi JK, Davis
R, Doyle J, Frantaoni D, Li PP, Marchesiello P, Moline MA, Paduan J, Ramp S (2009)