Global Maps of U,V Kinetic Energy Spectra from QSCAT Surface Winds, for 2000-2006

Global maps of zonal and meridional kinetic energy vs. wavenumber have been calculated from QSCAT (Version 2) surface wind data. Seven years of complete annual data (2000-2006) are compared, based on wavelet-based power spectral density estimates, for scales of 50 to 1000km. Several regions in the Pacific Ocean are discussed in detail, including: mid-latitude storm tracks (northern and southern hemispheres); the western equatorial warm pool; and the ITCZ in the eastern tropical Pacifc Ocean. Annual and interannual variability are described.