Jason-2 OGDR Wind and Wave Products: Monitoring, Validation and Assimilation

Abstract

Jason-2 altimeter OGDR-BUFR wind and wave products are validated operationally against available observations and ECMWF model fields. The Ku-band significant wave height (SWH) is better than its Jason-1 counterpart. However, the surface wind speed needs some improvements. The positive impact of assimilating Jason-2 SWH in the ECMWF wave model was proved through several numerical experiments. Jason-2 SWH replaced Jason-1 operationally on 10 March 2009. After its move to a new orbit, Jason-1 SWH was also proved to have limited, yet positive impact leading to its reintroduction into the ECMWF system on June 8, 2009.