Ocean surface wind data are derived from spatial blending of high-resolution satellite data (Seawinds instrument on the QuickSCAT satellite - QSCAT) and global weather center re-analyses (NCEP), resulting in high temporal and spatial resolution datasets (6-hourly, and 0.5 x 0.5 degree) of wind vector components (U and V) and windstress curl. The global coverage datasets begin in July 1999 and are updated periodically as long as the QSCAT mission continues.

Surface wind component and wind stress curl fields are available in three forms. The "bln" product is the blended wind field output. The "low" fields consist of the NCEP re-analyses spline interpolated to the 0.5 x 0.5 degree grid (i.e. no QSCAT data blended). The "sub" product is output from an intermediate step in the blending process that consists of the superposition of QSCAT observations on NCEP before blending. This product is useful to identify the satellite data swaths in each composite of 12-hours of QSCAT observations.

CAUTION: This blended wind product was developed for general circulation scale analyses - see Blended_Winds_Caution. The blending methodology is summarized in Blended_Winds_Summary, and more details are available from the Blended Winds web page at Colorado Research Associates.