Cross-Calibrated Multi-Platform Ocean Surface Wind Velocity, 1987 - ongoing

The Cross-Calibrated Multi-Platform (CCMP) data product is derived through cross-calibration and assimilation of ocean surface wind data from SSM/I, TMI, AMSR-E, SeaWinds on QuikSCAT, and SeaWinds on ADEOS-II. Cross calibration is performed by Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) under the DISCOVER project [remss.com/]. These data sets are combined with conventional observations and a starting estimate of the wind field using a variational analysis method (VAM).

The ECMWF Reanalysis (ERA-40) is used as the starting estimate (or background) for July 1987 until December 1998 and the ECMWF Operational Analysis is used from January 1999 onward. CCMP is provided by the NASA PO.DAAC and has been evaluated and utilized extensively by the science community, including some members of NASA's Ocean Vector Winds Science Team (OVWST).