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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