As population grows, technological capability increases and international commerce expands. The proper use
of resources becomes more important than ever before. Efficient utilization of the sea is particularly vital to human
survival. Today, satellite technology can be employed to observe Earth's oceans from space without much of the
uncertainty encountered by mariners of times gone by. By measuring global sea-surface wind speed and direction,
ocean scatterometer data can help meteorologists more accurately predict the marine phenomena that affect
human life on a daily basis. Some examples follow:
Weather Forecasting Data from ocean scatterometers greatly enhances overall
weather-forecasting capabilities. Most of the weather over the west coast of the United States, and some over the
east coast, is generated over the oceans. The measurements derived from ocean scatterometers are assimilated into
numerical models (computer programs that represent natural processes in terms of equations), which can be used
to predict global and regional weather patterns. The data are delivered to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) within two hours, where they are used for timely, accurate weather forecasting.
Storm Detection The ocean scatterometer data can determine the location, direction,
structure and strength of storms at sea. Severe marine storms � hurricanes near the Americas, typhoons in Asian
waters, and mid-latitude cyclones worldwide are among the most destructive of all natural phenomena. In the
United States alone hurricanes have been responsible for at least 17,000 deaths since 1900, and hundreds of
millions of dollars in damage annually. If worldwide statistics are considered, the numbers are substantially
higher. Although typically not as violent as hurricanes and typhoons, mid-latitude cyclones exact a heavy toll in
casualties and material damage.
In recent years, our ability to detect and track severe storms has been dramatically enhanced by the advent of
weather satellites. Cloud images from space are now routine on weather reports. Data from ocean scatterometers
augment these familiar images by providing direct measurements of surface winds to compare with the observed
cloud patterns. These wind data help meteorologists to more accurately identify the extent of gale force winds
associated with a storm, and provide inputs to numerical models that provide advanced warning of high waves and
flooding.
Ship Routing Wind-observation data from ocean scatterometers is of particular significance
in ship routing. Prior knowledge of wind behavior will enable ship masters to choose routes that avoid heavy seas,
or high headwinds that may slow ships' progress, increase fuel consumption, or possibly cause damage to vessels
and loss of life. In the past, ship captains relied on widely spaced measurements from buoys and sporadic,
sometimes unreliable reports from other ships. Data from satellite-based scatterometers are much more regular,
extensive and dependable.
Oil Production Earth's oceans are increasingly used as a source of fuel. As continental
fossil-fuel supplies are depleted, the more challenging task of extracting oil and gas from the seabed becomes a
necessity. Oil and gas production is already on-going at numerous offshore sites around the world � the Gulf of
Mexico, the North Sea, the Persian Gulf, and other areas. Thorough knowledge of the historical wind and
wave conditions at any specific location is crucial to the design of drilling platforms. Safe, efficient drilling
operations depend on an accurate understanding of the current sea state and warning of impending storms.
In the event of an oil spill, surface-wind information is key to determining how the oil will spread. Ocean
scatterometer data could help clean-up and containment crews to minimize the environmental effects of such a
disaster.
Food Production Perhaps the oldest use of the ocean is in the harvesting of food. Today,
ocean fishing is a highly systematic activity that makes extensive use of advanced technology to reduce the cost
and to increase the value of every "catch". Detailed wind data from the scatterometers can aid in the
management of commercial seafood crops. The annual U.S. shrimp harvest in the Gulf of Mexico, for example,
depends on favorable on-shore winds that transport offshore, plankton larvae to estuaries where the larvae can
develop into adult shrimp. NSCAT and SeaWinds data would be invaluable in the prediction of winds on which
such endeavors depend.