NASA CYGNSS Mission Science Highlights

The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission consists of a constellation of eight small satellites designed to utilize GPS signals reflected from the Earth's surface to infer near-surface wind speeds over the global tropical oceans. The eight-satellite constellation observes ocean-surface wind speeds in all weather conditions (including in heavy precipitation) with a median revisit time of approximately 3 hours. CYGNSS was launched 15 December 2016, and has been producing wind speed data products routinely since 18 March 2017.

The measurements made by CYGNSS are designed to improve understanding of winds in and around the inner core of tropical cyclones; however, observations are being taken constantly over ocean and land in a latitude range that spans +/- 40 degrees latitude. The CYGNSS science team has been using CYGNSS measurements to examine a wide variety of wind and wave processes over the tropical and subtropical oceans. Recent research has also highlighted the ability of CYGNSS to observe land surface inundation / flooding and soil moisture. This presentation will highlight science results from the CYGNSS mission to date, including:

1. Observations of ocean surface winds near the inner core of tropical cyclones for the 2017 and 2018 Atlantic hurricane seasons.
2. Analysis of winds and surface fluxes in organized (non-TC) tropical convection
3. Data assimilation (OSSE and OSE) studies
4. Use of CYGNSS observations to study ocean waves
5. Observations of winds and surface fluxes in low-latitude extratropical fronts and cyclones
6. CYGNSS land-based applications, including flooding and soil moisture