Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
coastal wind retrieval, satellite scatterometer, QuikSCAT
College
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Abstract
The SeaWinds scatterometer aboard the QuikSCAT satellite has been functioning to measure radar backscatter over the ocean since its launch in 1999. The backscatter data from the scatterometer is used to infer wind speeds over the ocean and is vital to ocean wind measurement as the satellite covers nearly the entire ocean daily. Backscatter measurements made by QuikSCAT in the vicinity of land are contaminated by land as it is generally much more reflective than ocean. Land contamination of backscatter measurements causes wind speeds near the coast to be vastly overestimated and to be so inaccurate as to be useless. My research has focused on developing an algorithm for detection and removal of land contamination so that winds inferred from backscatter measurements are accurate regardless of location and wind speeds.
Recommended Citation
Owen, Michael and Long, Dr. David
(2013)
"Coastal Wind Retrieval using Satellite Scatterometer Data,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 1898.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1898