Error Characterization of Significant Wave Heights in Multidecadal Satellite Altimeter Product, Model Hindcast, and In Situ Measurements Using the Triple Collocation Technique

Type Article
Date 2022-07
Language English
Author(s) Dodet GuillaumeORCID1, Abdalla Saleh2, Alday Matias4, Accensi MickaelORCID1, Bidlot Jean2, Ardhuin FabriceORCID3
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Laboratoire d’Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), IUEM, F-29280, Plouzané, France.
2 : European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts, Reading, United Kingdom
3 : Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Laboratoire d’Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), IUEM, F-29280, Plouzané, France.
4 : Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Laboratoire d’Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), IUEM, F-29280, Plouzané, France.
Source Journal Of Atmospheric And Oceanic Technology (0739-0572) (American Meteorological Society), 2022-07 , Vol. 39 , N. 7 , P. 887-901
DOI 10.1175/JTECH-D-21-0179.1
WOS© Times Cited 4
Keyword(s) Sea state, Buoy observations, Satellite observations, Uncertainty, Numerical analysis/modeling
Abstract

Ocean wave measurements are of major importance for a number of applications including climate studies, ship routing, marine engineering, safety at sea, and coastal risk management. Depending on the scales and regions of interest, a variety of data sources may be considered (e.g. in situ data, Voluntary Observing Ship observations, altimeter records, numerical wave models), each one with its own characteristics in terms of sampling frequency, spatial coverage, accuracy, and cost. In order to combine multiple source of wave information (e.g. for data assimilation scheme in numerical weather prediction models), the error characteristics of each measurement system need to be defined. In this study, we use the triple-collocation technique to estimate the random error variance of significant wave heights from a comprehensive collection of collocated in situ, altimeter and model data. The in situ dataset is a selection of 122 platforms provided by the Copernicus Marine Service in situ Thematic Center. The altimeter dataset is the ESA Sea State CCI version1 L2P product. The model dataset is the WW3-LOPS hindcast forced with bias-corrected ERA5 winds and an adjusted T475 parameterization of wave generation and dissipation. Compared to previous similar analyses, the extensive (∼250,000 entries) triple collocation dataset generated for this study provides some new insights on the error variability associated to differences in in situ platforms, satellite missions, sea state conditions, and seasonal variability.

Full Text
File Pages Size Access
Publisher's official version 34 1 MB Open access
Supplementary Materials 6 158 KB Open access
Top of the page

How to cite 

Dodet Guillaume, Abdalla Saleh, Alday Matias, Accensi Mickael, Bidlot Jean, Ardhuin Fabrice (2022). Error Characterization of Significant Wave Heights in Multidecadal Satellite Altimeter Product, Model Hindcast, and In Situ Measurements Using the Triple Collocation Technique. Journal Of Atmospheric And Oceanic Technology, 39(7), 887-901. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-21-0179.1 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00765/87659/