Platform and Across-Swath Comparison of Vorticity Spectra From QuikSCAT, ASCAT-A, OSCAT, and ASCAT-B Scatterometers

In the last few years, there has been tremendous improvement in the calibration of ocean surface vector winds from scatterometers and polarimetric radiometers. This is the first detailed investigation of across-swath consistency in scatterometer-derived (i.e., QSCAT, ASCAT-A, OSCAT, and ASCAT-B) vorticity (curl of the ocean surface vector winds). Spatial derivatives of the winds fields are very important for atmospheric boundary-layer processes, upper ocean forcing, and deep ocean forcing. Improvements in wind calibration imply improvements in derivatives of these winds; however, it does not imply consistency. This study demonstrates near consistency in across-swath vorticity and near consistency between platforms.