CMOD5.H—A High Wind Geophysical Model Function for C-Band Vertically Polarized Satellite Scatterometer Measurements

The Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) on the MetOp-A satellite is a radar instrument designed specifically to retrieve the ocean surface wind speed and direction. The ASCAT wind vector products are produced and utilized operationally in support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s weather forecasting and warning mission. The standard ASCAT winds at NOAA are produced using the ASCAT wind data processor developed at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) utilizing the CMOD5.n geophysical model function (GMF). Recent validation of the ASCAT wind retrievals revealed a low bias at high wind speeds when compared to both the QuikSCAT winds and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction numerical weather prediction (NWP) model winds. The goal of this paper is to investigate the ASCAT high-wind-speed performance and to modify, as appropriate, the high-wind-speed portion of CMOD5.n GMF. This effort would potentially improve the utility of ASCAT wind retrievals in supporting wind warning and analysis and thus better mitigate the loss of QuikSCAT data products. Traditionally, the GMF is developed empirically by collocating scatterometer measurements and other truth data such as buoy and NWP model winds. However, NWP models are known to underestimate the intensity of higher wind speeds, and data sources such as ship-based or buoy-based observations provide an inadequate quantity of measurements for empirical GMF development. In this paper, a method utilizing aircraft-based scatterometer measurements in the high-wind-speed regimes is used in conjunction with satellite scatterometer measurements to refine the satellite GMF. As a result of this paper, a high wind C-band satellite GMF, CMOD5.h, was developed and implemented in NOAA's ASCAT processor. The validation comparison of the high wind and standard ASCAT wind products revealed 0.6-m/s reduction in the wind speed bias for winds greater than 15 m/s with respect to QuikSCAT, WindSat, and Step Frequency Microwave Radiometer high wind measurements.