Incorporating satellite data into offshore weather advice systems

摘要

No individual measurement or prediction system is perfect, each suffers disadvantages. Offshore buoys provide a continuous long-term record of wind and wave conditions, but only at a limited number of sites. Satellite data offer all-weather global coverage, but with relatively infrequent sampling. Forecasts rely on imperfect numerical schemes and the ability to manage a vast quantity of input data. Therefore the best system is one that integrates information from all available sources, taking advantage of the benefits that each can offer. We report on results from two linked initiatives, the first supported by the European Space Agency, and the second supported jointly by the British National Space Centre and the UK Health and Executive, which together investigated how satellite data could be used to improve confidence in systems to provide Near Real Time monitoring off met-ocean conditions.