Satellite-borne microwave multichannel microwave radiometers and scatterometers are being used to measure near-surface winds over the global oceans with unprecendented coverage, resolution, and accuracy. Construction of consistent multi-decadal time series requires development of proper error models for the wind measurements, statistically valid cross-calibration of measurements from different sensors and missions, and quantification of the space-time resolution of regular fields constructed from multiple sensors with differing sampling characteristics. Recently developed advanced
techniques will be presented and applied to the ERS, NSCAT, and SSM/I data sets. The status of, and preliminary results from, the newly launched QuikSCAT/SeaWinds scatterometer mission will be discussed.