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Evaluation of Winds from SCATSAT-1 and ASCAT Using Buoys in the Indian Ocean

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Abstract

Over the data sparse oceanic region, ocean surface winds from scatterometers on-board satellites play a crucial role to make accurate Numerical Weather Prediction model-based analysis. In the present study, ocean surface winds derived from the recently launched SCATSAT-1 for the year 2017 over the Indian Ocean are validated against the winds from the Moored and RAMA buoys. The validation results for ASCAT winds for the same period are also presented. The comparison of SCATSAT-1 (ASCAT) winds against offshore OMNI buoy winds indicates that the mean differences for wind speed and wind direction are 0.5 m/s and  – 1.0° (0.39 m/s and  – 4.0°), and the RMSEs are 1.44 m/s and 23.0° (1.17 m/s and 25.0°), respectively. For the coastal OMNI buoys, the SCATSAT-1 (ASCAT) indicated that the mean differences for wind speed and wind direction are 1.6 m/s and  – 5° (1.15 m/s and  – 0.4°), and the RMSEs are 2.65 m/s and 46 deg, (2.1 m/s and 51°), respectively. Quantified differences are almost similar for the comparison of SCATSAT-1/ASCAT with RAMA buoys. Overall, the quantified differences in the wind speed and direction between the SCATSAT-1 and buoys are closer to the satellite’s mission specifications of 1.8 m/s and 20°, respectively, and at par with the ASCAT accuracies. The capability of SCATSAT-1 winds to capture a cyclonic storm OCKHI during December 2017 also is depicted. The present study endorses that the SCATSAT-1 data are accurate and reliable and can be used in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models and also for other applications.

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Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to Director, ESSO-INCOIS, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), for providing the necessary facilities. Secretary, MoES, is thanked for the support and encouragement. We are also thankful to ESSO-NIOT for providing the moored buoy data, National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) for providing SCATSAT-1 data, KNMI for the distribution of ASCAT data and the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) for RAMA buoy data. This is INCOIS contribution number 408.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ESSO-Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India), Hyderabad, 500090, India

    Anuradha Modi, R. Harikumar, T. M. Balakrishnan Nair & K. Srinivas

  2. Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS), Kochi, Kerala, 682 506, India

    Anuradha Modi

  3. Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 531 163, India

    Suresh Kumar Munaka

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  1. Anuradha Modi
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  2. Suresh Kumar Munaka
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  3. R. Harikumar
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  4. T. M. Balakrishnan Nair
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  5. K. Srinivas
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Correspondence to Anuradha Modi.

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Modi, A., Munaka, S.K., Harikumar, R. et al. Evaluation of Winds from SCATSAT-1 and ASCAT Using Buoys in the Indian Ocean. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 49, 1915–1925 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-021-01335-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-021-01335-4

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