Accuracy of Wind Observations from Open-Ocean Buoys: Correction for Flow Distortion

Schlundt, Michael; Farrar, J. Thomas; Bigorre, Sebastien P.; Plueddemann, Albert J.; Weller, Robert A.

doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-19-0132.1

i

Accuracy of Wind Observations from Open-Ocean Buoys: Correction for Flow Distortion

2020
By Schlundt, Michael ; Farrar, J. Thomas ; Bigorre, Sebastien P.
Source Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 37(4), 687-703

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Journal Title:

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Personal Author:

Schlundt, Michael ; Farrar, J. Thomas ; Bigorre, Sebastien P. ; Plueddemann, Albert J. ; Weller, Robert A.
NOAA Program & Office:

OAR (Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) ; CPO (Climate Program Office) ; CINAR (Cooperative Institute for the North Atlantic Region)
Description:

The comparison of equivalent neutral winds obtained from (i) four WHOI buoys in the subtropics and (ii) scatterometer estimates at those locations reveals a root-mean-square (RMS) difference of 0.56–0.76 m s−1. To investigate this RMS difference, different buoy wind error sources were examined. These buoys are particularly well suited to examine two important sources of buoy wind errors because 1) redundant anemometers and a comparison with numerical flow simulations allow us to quantitatively assess flow distortion errors, and 2) 1-min sampling at the buoys allows us to examine the sensitivity of buoy temporal sampling/averaging in the buoy–scatterometer comparisons. The interanemometer difference varies as a function of wind direction relative to the buoy wind vane and is consistent with the effects of flow distortion expected based on numerical flow simulations. Comparison between the anemometers and scatterometer winds supports the interpretation that the interanemometer disagreement, which can be up to 5% of the wind speed, is due to flow distortion. These insights motivate an empirical correction to the individual anemometer records and subsequent comparison with scatterometer estimates show good agreement.
Source:

Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 37(4), 687-703
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-19-0132.1
Document Type:

Journal Article
Funding:

Grant no. NA14OAR4320158
Rights Information:

CC BY
Compliance:

Submitted
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27273/noaa_27273_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 2.54 MB]
Collection(s):

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) ; NOAA Cooperative Institutes
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:e9f2f7fc80aae431010917705ec1790f31d2d2dade6a82607a4527a95fa1e51a943edeb90f43428c9b227aeb385549b441d33557967a185a3472dbbc875af5f4

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