Measuring wind speed is of major importance to understanding weather patterns at both local and global scales. Wind speed measurements are important in identifying and tracking dangerous weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes. They also impact air quality modeling, by affecting the dispersal of pollutants and other materials through the atmosphere. 

NASA maintains long-term records of global wind speeds, like the Modern-Erea Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2 land surface forcings dataset). The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) is a fleet of eight micro-satellites that measure wind speeds over the ocean by studying surface roughness using Doppler radar.

Missions like these provide wind speed measurements that can help communities better predict and prepare for extreme weather, or forecast the impact of air quality events like wildfires and volcanoes. It’s also important for atmospheric models that illuminate long-term patterns in global weather and climate.