Why measure wind?

Surface winds, combined with other atmospheric forces (solar energy, precipitation rate, evaporation rate) are all responsible for the movement of water masses in the ocean, and are thus responsible for ocean currents.

Marine winds shape the ocean, and can cause waves as high as a mountain to swell during a storm. They are the source of many legends and color the moods of seafarers around the world.

How is it measured?

By satellite

• Microwave radiometers
• Microwave scatterometers
• SAR
• Altimeters

Numerical models
Numerical weather forecasting models make it possible to understand sea surface winds. They are many of these models in operation today.