Using ASCAT Wind and Other Data in Marine Forecasting

3.0 System Identification and Model Evaluation Using Observational Data » 3.5 ASCAT Wind Data » 3.5.2 Scatterometer Wind Information

Here's an ASCAT wind plot generated from a Metop-B overpass at 0629 UTC on 23 November. We see that the Polarstern is between the two swaths at this time.

Metop-B ASCAT wind barbs south and east of South Africa 0629 UTC 23 Nov 2013

Question 1

What wind speed and direction did the scatterometer detect at the position indicated by the red circle?

ASCAT shows westerly winds of 35kt.

Please make a selection.

Question 2

What duration do these scatterometer winds represent?

Scatterometer ocean surface winds are averaged over a large area of around 25 km. This equates to averaging over an hour in time.

Please make a selection.