Applications of scatterometer winds in coastal areas

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Abstract
The performance of the Seasat-A Satellite Scatterometer (SASS) in two semi-enclosed seas, the North Sea and the Mediterranean, is assessed by comparing its wind velocity data with measurements from coastal stations, ships, buoys and from the initialization of an atmospheric forecast model. For this purpose data generated using the same algorithm as that employed for routine production of global ocean winds have been used. Although some of the comparisons shows much greater scatter than in previous open-ocean validation, which may be due to the poorer quality of the non-satellite data, there is no systematic biases. Open-ocean algorithms appear to be applicable to the two regions studied. Examples of wind and wind-stress curl fields obtained from the scatterometer are presented for several meteorological situations-—an atmospheric front, flow distortion by orography, oceanic upwelling induced by the Mistral and a storm-surge in the Adriatic. These case studies show the value of having detailed spatial coverage of winds with high internal consistency. The paper concludes with comments on the future use of scatterometers in semi-enclosed seas.