Source/sensor: DMSP SSM/I

Coverage: August 1987-December 1988, global

Abstract: This product consists of wind speeds calculated over water areas (plus coastal, sea ice, and possible sea ice areas) using the algorithms developed by F. Wentz (Remote Sensing Systems) 1989, 1992). The data were derived from the SSM/I (Special Sensor Microwave Imager) instrument on the DMSP F-8 (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) satellite and were produced by the Marshall Space Flight Center. The data are global, in swath format, and cover the time period 1987-08-01 to 1988-12-31. This product is similar to PO.DAAC Product 033, however flags that indicate surface type are more accurate in the Pathfinder product. Wentz cautions that wind speed values over fresh water lakes are suspect as are values within 50-100 km of the coast; these values have not been flagged. Values over coastal, possible sea ice, and sea ice areas are flagged because of the questionable validity of the algorithm over these areas. For locations or pixels where the algorithm did not converge, marine wind speed values are not calculated. Cloud/rain liquid water values exceeding 18 mg/cm2 indicate the presence of rain; marine wind speeds are flagged because the accuracy of the wind speed estimate quickly degrade above this value and the algorithm developer recommends these wind speeds not be used. In Revision 1 of the geophysical tapes user's manual, Wentz includes a correction for the cloud/rain liquid water; this correction has been applied to the Pathfinder data. The corrected value of 18 mg/cm2 corresponds to the value of 25 mg/cm2 shown in the 1989 version of the user manual. The data are in HDF. Browse products are included. These data are also available via anonymous FTP to podaac.jpl.nasa.gov in the pub/ocean_wind/ssmi/msfc_pathfinder/level2 directory.

Data Set Vol: Approximately 7.5 GB uncompressed and 2.5 GB compressed

Smallest order: Entire data set or portion depending upon method of access.

Formats: Binary data via ftp or on 8mm tape.