Statistical Characteristics of the Global Surface Current Speeds Obtained From Satellite Altimetry and Scatterometer Data

Author

Chu, Peter C.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Oceanogr., Naval Postgrad. Sch., Monterey, CA

Volume

2

Issue

1

fYear

2009

fDate

3/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

27

Lastpage

32

Abstract

Near-real time ocean surface currents derived from satellite altimeter (JASON-1, GFO, ENVISAT) and scatterometer (QSCAT) data on 1deg times 1deg resolution for world oceans (60deg S to 60deg N) are available online as ldquoOcean Surface Current Analyses-Real Time (OSCAR).rdquo The probability distribution function (PDF) of the current speeds (omega), constructed from global OSCAR data from 1992 to 2008, satisfies the two-parameter Weibull distribution reasonably well, and such a PDF has little seasonal and interannual variations. Knowledge on PDF of omega will improve the ensemble horizontal flux calculation, which contributes to the climate studies.

Keywords

Weibull distribution; oceanography; radar altimetry; AD 1992 to 2008; ENVISAT; GFO; JASON-1; Ocean Surface Current Analyses-Real Time; PDF; QSCAT; climate studies; ensemble horizontal flux calculation; interannual variation; ocean surface currents; probability distribution function; satellite altimeter data; satellite scatterometer data; seasonal variation; statistical characteristics; two-parameter Weibull distribution; Altimetry; Earth; Ocean temperature; Radar measurements; Remote sensing; Satellites; Sea surface; Surface topography; Thermal stresses; Weibull distribution; Altimetry; probability; satellites; scattering; sea surface; stochastic processes;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1939-1404

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSTARS.2009.2014474

Filename

4796247