Use of Satellite data in Marine Meteorology Lee-ann Simpson South African weather service
Use of Satellite data in Marine Meteorology
Lee-ann Simpson
South African weather service
Land observation versus marine observation network
• 11000 land observation stations being used
• 4000 ship, only 1000 report daily other are ad-hock
• 1400 drifting buoys
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Marine
observations
Surface
observations
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Satellite observation network
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Satellites and Marine Meteorology
• Weather System identification and placement
• Wind speed and direction approximation
• Sea State measurement (mostly wind driven)
• Anticipation/Observation of marine weather-related hazards
• Assimilation into prediction models
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Weather System identification and placement
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Altimeter Data
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• Sentinel 3A
• Jason 3 & 4
• Altika
• Cyosat
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Meteorological applications of altimeter data
• Sea state measurement/approximation
• Storm surge forecasting (NWP assimilation)
• Forecast verification (limited due to coverage/footprint)
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Scatterometer Data
• Metop A (ASCAT)
• Metop B (ASCAT)
• Quikscat
• Rapidscat
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Applications of scatterometerdata
• Wind speed and direction measurement/observation
• Weather system identification and placement
• Hazardous weather observation (wind related)
• Forecast verification
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ASCAT 25km 2200UTC vs MSG 2200UTC
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Integrated use of satellite data
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Intense weather system
identification and placement
Wind speed and direction
approximation
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Time difference between ASCAT data and
Satellite image = placement discontinuity
Super-Typhoon: Mangkhut
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Sea State
measurement
Intense weather
system
identification
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Marine related Weather Hazards
• Tropical cyclones/Hurricanes/Typhoons
• Wind related hazards
• Thunderstorms, heavy precipitation with poor visibility etc.
• Restricted visibility (precip, fog, dust, volcanic activity)
• Storm induced abnormal water conditions
• Unusual and hazardous wave conditions
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High Impact/Impact based forecasting
• Impact tables will be formulated, similar to PWS impact tables
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Thank you for your attention
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