Synergistic use of remotely sensed data for evaluation of the role of boundary layer in synoptic storms and fronts

Surface wind fields for mid-latitude storms are developed from multiple satellite sensors. The SSM/I (Special Sensor Microwave/Imager) passive radiometer and the ERS-1 scatterometer determine wind speed and wind vector measurements, respectively. The data are compared with the conventional analyses from ECMWF. Since the satellite data do not give complete coverage and are seldom synchronous with the analyses, a stratagem is needed for creating a composite field. This encompasses time shifting, gap filling and smoothing techniques. To provide a background wind field and to fill in the interswath gaps the University of Washington planetary boundary layer model is used with the ECMWF sea level pressure and temperature fields to determine the surface wind. The ECMWF analyses are interpolated to the nearest hour of the satellite overpass(es). The sea level pressure and 2-meter air temperature fields before and after the time in question are used for the interpolation. The translation of the intersections of the isobars and isotherms over the six hour interval, enables determination of the fields at any hour in between. This interpolation allows retention of the synoptic scale features in the analyses and permits many looks at a storm during its life. The satellite data are laid over the background wind field, each with weighting and smoothing factors. Two storms in the North Pacific, which occurred in November of 1992 are analyzed