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Full catalog/ASCATB_ESDR_L2_WIND_STRESS_V1.1
ASCATB_ESDR_L2_WIND_STRESS_V1.1·v1.1·dataset

Ocean surface winds and wind push (MetOp-B, mirror)

MetOp-B ASCAT Scatterometer Inter-Calibrated ESDR Level 2 Ocean Surface Equivalent Neutral Wind Vectors and Wind Stress Vectors Version 1.1
ocean NASA SCIOPS Level 2 netCDF-4
In plain English

What it measures. Wind speed and direction at the ocean surface and the wind's push on the water, across the satellite's track (a mirror copy of the MetOp-B wind product).

How it's made. Derived from the ASCAT scatterometer on the MetOp-B satellite, in an early science-evaluation release intended for review by a NASA science team.

How & where you'd use it. Aimed at scientists evaluating the data for accuracy, with the understanding that it may be revised based on their feedback.

What's measured

OCEANS › OCEAN WINDS › SURFACE WINDS › Ocean Surface Wind VectorsOCEANS › OCEAN WINDS › WIND STRESS

Coverage & cadence

  • Time span2013-08-01 → 2022-05-31
  • Measured byMETOP-B (ASCAT)
  • Processing levelLevel 2
  • Spatial extent-180, -90, 180, 90
  • FormatsnetCDF-4
  • StatusCOMPLETE

What you can do with it

  • Watch sea-surface temperature and marine heatwaves
  • Spot algal blooms and ocean-colour shifts
  • Support fisheries and coastal monitoring
Official description

This dataset contains ocean surface wind vectors (equivalent neutral and true 10m) and wind stress vectors derived from satellite-based scatterometer observations (the MetOp-B ASCAT scatterometer), representing the first science quality release of these data (post-provisional after v1.0) funded under the MEaAUREs program. The primary purpose of this release is for science evaluation by the NASA International Ocean Vector Winds Science Team (IOVWST). As such, this release 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 number, which begins at the southernmost point of the ascending orbit. <br><br> The dataset represents the first science quality release funded under the MEaSUREs (Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments) program. Version 1.1 provides a set of updates and improvements from version 1.0, including: 1) increased data coverage, 2) improved quality control, and 3) new global metadata attributes featuring revolution number, equator crossing longitude, and equator crossing time (UTC).

Get the data

ascatb_esdr_l2_wind_stress_v1.1_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="ASCATB_ESDR_L2_WIND_STRESS_V1.1",
    version="1.1",
    bounding_box=(-122.5, 37.2, -121.8, 37.9),  # your area (W,S,E,N)
    temporal=("2024-01-01", "2024-12-31"),       # your dates
)
files = earthaccess.open(results)   # stream straight from SCIOPS
Browsing CMR needs no login. Downloading or streaming bytes needs a free Earthdata Login + the earthaccess package.