The Cross-Calibrated Multi-Platform (CCMP) Ocean Vector Wind Analysis (V2.0)

The Cross-Calibrated Multi-Platform (CCMP) ocean vector wind analysis is a quarter-degree, six-hourly, global (excluding latitudes poleward of 78 degrees) product created using a variational analysis method (VAM). The original version V1.1 [Atlas et al., 2011; Atlas et al., 1996; Hoffman et al., 2003] was discontinued in July 2012. CCMP V2.0 is updated and improved in several ways. CCMP V2.0 is based on consistent inter-calibrated satellite and uniform background data sets. CCMP V2.0 assimilates the recently updated RSS Version-7 microwave radiometer winds and recently reprocessed RSS scatterometer winds. The CCMP V2.0 background field is now the six-hourly, quarter-degree ERA-Interim reanalysis, and the quality-checks on the in situ data have been carefully reviewed and improved. As a result of these improvements CCMP V2.0 exhibits very good temporal consistency. In addition to the use of SSM/I, SSMIS, TMI, QuikSCAT, AMSRE, and WindSat winds, AMSR2, GMI, and ASCAT have been also included in the CCMP V2.0. CCMP V2.0 extends nearly 30 years, from 1987 to 2015 and will be further extended as buoy data become available. Plans for the future, including improvements at high wind speeds, and limitations that users should be aware of will be discussed.