Ocean Surface Winds
Team
The ocean comprises over 70% of Earth's surface, which makes satellite
remote sensing a logical and significant component of an overall effort to
meet societal needs for weather and water information; support commerce with
information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation;
and provide information for better coastal preparedness. Ocean surface
vector winds (OSVW) are crucial pieces of information needed to understand and
predict the short-term and longer-term processes that drive our planet's environment.
As the largest source of momentum for the ocean surface, winds affect the full
range of ocean movement, from individual surface waves to complete current
systems. Winds along the ocean surface regulate interaction between the atmosphere
and the ocean via modulation of air-sea exchanges of heat, moisture, gases, and
particulates. With the ocean covering almost three quarters of Earth's surface,
this interaction has significant influence on global and regional climate.
The Ocean Surface Winds Team (OSWT) of the Center for Satellite Application and Research
(STAR),
NESDIS/
NOAA
applies remotely-sensed data received from operational and research satellites. OSWST mission objectives include:
- Product development and improvement
- Calibration and validation
- OSVW field experiment program
- Product development
- Calibration and validation
- Future mission risk reduction
- User support (education, training and feedback)
- Support future mission planning and development
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