A Look at the New Oceansat-2 Scatterometer (OSCAT) over Tropical Cyclones

Characteristics of the latest satellite-based global scatterometer, Oceansat-2 (OSCAT), are presented for its use in near real-time tropical cyclone analysis. A new 25-km ocean surface vector wind retrieval is currently being developed at NOAA/NESDIS in the hope of bringing back the ocean surface wind coverage that was once provided by the QuikSCAT scatterometer. Comparisons between the 25km and 50km retrievals are evaluated and compared with the current array of other ocean wind sensor products produced from the ASCAT and WindSAT satellites. At first glance, the OSCAT scatterometer appears to be on par with the QuikSCAT sensor in its ability to accurately depict tropical cyclone positions and outer wind structure, and to provide a minimum (at least) value of maximum intensity. As was the case with the old QuikSCAT data, applications of the OSCAT data requires a learning process for using not only the wind vectors, but also the ambiguities in order to make the most of the data. These early results, along with its 90% daily coverage over the tropical oceans, suggests a valuable tool will soon be available for aiding the world's tropical cyclone forecasting centers in maintaining improved forecasts and warnings.