The application of QuikSCAT winds in the NOAA Ocean Prediction Center

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) is responsible for issuing wind warnings for the High Seas waters of the Northern Hemisphere from 35 degrees W to 160 degrees E including the offshore waters of the continental United States. Wind warning categories are based on the Beaufort Scale and are: GALE (17.2 to 24.4 m s^-1), STORM (24.5 to 32.6 m s^-1) and HURRICANE FORCE (32.7 m s^-1 or greater). Near real-time winds derived from the SeaWinds Scatterometer on board the NASA QuikSCAT satellite have proven to be extremely useful to OPC forecasters. A recent survey indicated that ten percent of all short-term wind warnings issued by the OPC were determined using QuikSCAT winds. QuikSCAT winds were also used to more accurately place one half to two thirds of all weather features on manual ocean surface analyses. QuikSCAT, with its wide swath width and large retrievable wind range is the first data set to consistently observe winds well into the Hurricane Force category in extratropical cyclones. Based on QuikSCAT winds OPC forecasters are now able to detect and warn for Hurricane Force extratropical cyclones. Large sea surface temperature (SST) gradients exist over the mid-Atlantic coastal and offshore waters of the U.S. Forecasting surface winds in these areas presents a challenge to OPC forecasters. QuikSCAT has revealed that large wind speed gradients often coincide with these SST gradients. With QuikSCAT, OPC forecasters can now factor in low-level stability when making wind forecasts. The overall impact of QuikSCAT on marine forecasting in NOAA has been very positive. In fact, QuikSCAT winds have revolutionized the ocean forecasters´ ability to assess near surface winds over vast open ocean areas.