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Description

This dataset contains the first provisional release of the MEaSUREs-funded Earth Science Data Record (ESDR) of inter-calibrated ocean surface wind vectors (equivalent neutral and true 10m) and wind stress vectors derived from QuikSCAT scatterometer observations. The primary purpose of this release is for provisional evaluation by the NASA International Ocean Vector Winds Science Team (IOVWST). As such, this release is not intended for science-quality research, and is subject to future revision based on feedback provided by the IOVWST. The wind vector and stress retrievals are provided on a non-uniform grid within the swath (Level 2 (L2) products) at 12.5 km pixel resolution. Each L2 file corresponds to a specific orbital revolution (rev) number, which begins at the southernmost point of the ascending orbit.

Product Summary

Platforms
QUIKSCAT
Instruments
SEAWINDS
Projects
MEaSUREs/OSWV
Spatial Extent

N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180

Spatial Resolution
12.5 Kilometers x 12.5 Kilometers
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
2007-01-01 to 2009-11-22
Data Partner
Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA (NASA/JPL/PODAAC)
Concept ID
C2491137146-POCLOUD
Data State
DEPRECATED
Number of Files/Granules
14938
Processing Level
2
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Surface Winds ,
Wind Stress

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

NASA/JPL. (2022). QuikSCAT Scatterometer Inter-Calibrated ESDR Level 2 Ocean Surface Equivalent Neutral Wind Vectors and Wind Stress Version 1.0 [Dataset]. NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/ESDQS-L2W10 Date Accessed: 2026-10-13

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Variables

The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.

For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor Offset
cross_track_wind_speed_bias relative wind speed bias with respect to sweet spot m s-1 float -9999 -50 to 50 1 N/A
distance_from_coast Wind retrieval distance from the coastline closest to the retrieval. km float -99999 -25000 to 25000 1 N/A
en_wind_direction equivalent neutral wind direction clockwise from North following oceanographic convention degrees float -9999 0 to 360 1 N/A
en_wind_direction_error equivalent neutral wind direction uncertainty m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
en_wind_direction_uncorrected uncorrected equivalent neutral wind direction clockwise from North following oceanographic convention degrees float -9999 0 to 360 1 N/A
en_wind_speed retrieved equivalent neutral wind speed m s-1 float -9999 0 to 100 1 N/A
en_wind_speed_error equivalent neutral wind speed uncertainty m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
en_wind_speed_uncorrected retrieved equivalent neutral wind speed without corrections m s-1 float -9999 0 to 100 1 N/A
en_wind_u retrieved equivalent neutral eastward wind speed component vector m s-1 float -9999 -100 to 100 1 N/A
en_wind_u_error equivalent neutral eastward wind speed component vector uncertainty m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
en_wind_v retrieved equivalent neutral northward wind speed component vector m s-1 float -9999 -100 to 100 1 N/A
en_wind_v_error equivalent neutral northward wind speed component vector uncertainty m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
flags quality flags bit int -1 0 to 526352355 1 N/A
gmf_sst Sea Surface Temperature from NCAR Optimum Interpolation V2 product used during wind retrieval Degrees Celsius float -9999 -4 to 40 1 N/A
lat latitude degrees_north float N/A -90 to 90 1 N/A
lon longitude degrees_east float N/A 0 to 360 1 N/A
nudge_wind_direction model wind direction clockwise from North following oceanographic convention degrees float -9999 0 to 360 1 N/A
nudge_wind_speed NCEP wind speed m s-1 float -9999 0 to 100 1 N/A
quality_indicator simplified quality classification based on applied flags -1 short -1 0 to 5 1 N/A
rain_speed_bias atmospheric rain induced wind speed bias m s-1 float -9999 -50 to 50 1 N/A
real_wind_direction non-neutral wind direction clockwise from North following oceanographic convention degrees float -9999 0 to 360 1 N/A
real_wind_direction_error non-neutral wind direction uncertainty m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
real_wind_speed retrieved non-neutral 10m wind speed m s-1 float -9999 0 to 100 1 N/A
real_wind_speed_error non-neutral wind speed uncertainty m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
real_wind_u retrieved non-neutral eastward wind speed component vector m s-1 float -9999 -100 to 100 1 N/A
real_wind_u_error non-neutral eastward wind speed component vector uncertainty m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
real_wind_v retrieved non-neutral northward wind speed component vector m s-1 float -9999 -100 to 100 1 N/A
real_wind_v_error non-neutral northward wind speed component vector uncertainty m s-1 float -9999 0 to 50 1 N/A
time date and time seconds since 1999-1-1 0:0:0 double N/A N/A 1 N/A
wind_stress_direction estimated ocean surface wind stress direction direction clockwise from North following oceanographic convention degrees float -9999 0 to 360 1 N/A
wind_stress_magnitude estimated ocean surface wind stress magnitude N m-2 float -9999 0 to 15 1 N/A
wind_stress_magnitude_error ocean surface wind stress magnitude uncertainty N m-2 float -9999 0 to 1 1 N/A
wind_stress_u estimated ocean surface wind stress eastward component vector N m-2 float -9999 -15 to 15 1 N/A
wind_stress_u_error ocean surface wind stress eastward component vector uncertainty N m-2 float -9999 0 to 1 1 N/A
wind_stress_v estimated ocean surface wind stress northward component vector N m-2 float -9999 -15 to 15 1 N/A
wind_stress_v_error ocean surface wind stress northward component vector uncertainty N m-2 float -9999 0 to 1 1 N/A
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