A High-Resolution Surface Vector Wind Product for Coastal Oceans: Blending Satellite Scatterometer Measurements with Regional Mesoscale Atmospheric Model Simulations

A 2-dimensional variational method is used to blend the satellite scatterometer measured (QuikSCAT) and regional mesoscale atmospheric model simulated (COAMPS) surface vector winds for coastal central California. The approach is distinct from existing methods in that it considers errors from both measurements and models. When compared with independent in situ observations, the blended wind product shows consistently higher correlation and smaller RMS errors than QuikSCAT or COAMPS winds. The proposed blending algorithm can be implemented over any part of the world ocean. It should be a valuable tool for describing small-scale atmospheric processes in the coastal zones and for forcing high-resolution coastal ocean models.