Advancement of Sea Surface Convective Wind Gust Observation by Different Satellite Sensors and Assessment with In Situ Measurements

Abstract

This paper shows the observation and estimation of convective wind gusts by different satellite sensors at the C-band (Sentinel-1 SAR) and L-band (ALOS-1 SAR and SMAP radiometer) over Lake Victoria, the Gulf of Guinea, and the Gulf of Mexico. These areas are significantly impacted by deep convection associated with strong surface winds and heavy rainfall. In particular, the collocation of Sentinel-1 and SMAP images enables the observation of the movement of surface wind gusts corresponding to that of deep convective clouds. The convective wind intensity estimated from Sentinel-1 and SMAP data varies from 10 to 25 m/s. Additionally, we present an agreement in the observation of deep convective clouds, dynamics, and strong surface winds by different satellite sensors, including Meteosat geostationary (GEO), Aeolus Lidar, and Sentinel-1 SAR, respectively. We also evaluate the estimated convective wind gusts by comparison with the in situ measurements of the weather stations installed in the Gulf of Mexico, where deep convection occurs regularly. The result shows an agreement between the two wind sources estimated and measured. Likewise, the peaks of the measured wind gusts correspond to the occurrence of deep convective clouds observed by the GOES-16 GEO satellite.

Keywords

• Aeolus
• ALOS-1
• convective wind gust
• deep convection
• GOES-16
• Meteosat