Satellite remote sensing of surface winds, waves, and currents: where are we now?

• Published in: Surveys in Geophysics
• Main Authors: Hauser, Danièle, Abdalla, Saleh, Ardhuin, Fabrice, Bidlot, Jean-Raymond, Bourassa, Mark, Cotton, David, Gommenginger, Christine, Evers-King, Hayley, Johnsen, Harald, Knaff, John, Lavender, Samantha, Mouche, Alexis, Reul, Nicolas, Sampson, Charles, Steele, Edward
• Other Authors: SPACE - LATMOS, Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS), Florida State University Tallahassee (FSU)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: remote sensing; satellite; ocean; atmosphere; surface wind; surface waves; surface current; [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03969955; https://hal.science/hal-03969955/document; https://hal.science/hal-03969955/file/Review_remoteS_wind_waves_SurveyGeoph_accepted.pdf

International audience This review paper reports on the state-of-the-art concerning observations of surface winds, waves and currents from space and their use for scientific research and subsequent applications. The development of observations of sea state parameters from space dates back to the 1970s, with a significant increase in the number and diversity of space missions since the 1990s. Sensors used to monitor the sea-state parameters from space are mainly based on microwave techniques. They are either specifically designed to monitor surface parameters or are used for their abilities to provide opportunistic measurements complementary to their primary purpose. The principles on which is based the estimation of the sea surface parameters are first described, including the performance and limitations of each method. Numerous examples and references on the use of these observations for scientific and operational applications are then given. The richness and diversity of these applications are linked to the importance of knowledge of the sea state in many fields. Firstly, surface wind, waves and currents are significant factors influencing exchanges at the air/sea interface, impacting oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers, contributing to sea level rise at the coasts, and interacting with the sea-ice formation or destruction in the polar zones. Secondly, ocean surface currents combined with wind-and wave-induced drift contribute to the transport of heat, salt and pollutants. Waves and surface currents also impact sediment transport and erosion in coastal areas. For operational applications, observations of surface parameters are necessary on the one hand to constrain the numerical solutions of predictive models (numerical wave, oceanic or atmospheric models), and on the other hand to validate their results. In turn, these predictive models are used to guarantee safe, efficient and successful offshore operations, including the commercial shipping and energy sector, as well as tourism and coastal activities. ...