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Ocean Winds Data Access and Tools
NASA has ocean winds datasets that help researchers characterize the flow of air moving across the ocean. Access a range of data and data tools such as AppEEARS, Worldview, and Giovanni to make the most of ocean winds data.
Ocean Winds Datasets
| Dataset Sort descending | Version | Platform | Instrument | Temporal Extent | Spatial Extent | Spatial Resolution | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCEP/DOE Reanalysis II, for GSSTF, 0.25x0.25 deg, Monthly grid V3 (GSSTFM_NCEP) at GES DISC | 3 | NCEP-GFS | NOT APPLICABLE | 1987-07-01 to 2008-12-31 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
||
| NCEP/DOE Reanalysis II in HDF-EOS5, for GSSTF2c, 1x1 deg Daily grid V2c (GSSTF_NCEP) at GES DISC | 2c | NCEP-GFS | NOT APPLICABLE | 1987-07-01 to 2009-01-01 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
||
| NCEP/DOE Reanalysis II in HDF-EOS5, for GSSTF2c, 1x1 deg Monthly grid V2c (GSSTFM_NCEP) at GES DISC | 2c | NCEP-GFS | NOT APPLICABLE | 1987-07-01 to 2008-12-31 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
||
| NIMBUS-7 SMMR GLOBAL AIR-SEA PARAMETERS IN SWATH (Wentz) | 1 | Nimbus-7 | SMMR | 1979-11-01 to 1984-09-30 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
60000 Meters x 60000 Meters | RAW |
| NOAA CYGNSS Level 2 Science Wind Speed 25-km Product Version 1.2 | 1.2 | CYGNSS | DDMI | 2017-05-01 |
N: 40 S: -40 E: 180 W: -180 |
25000 Meters x 25000 Meters | netCDF-4 |
| NSCAT High Resolution R-MGDR, Selected Ocean Wind Vectors (JPL) | 2 | ADEOS-I | NSCAT | 1996-09-15 to 1997-06-29 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
25000 Meters x 25000 Meters | RAW |
| NSCAT High-Resolution MGDR, Sigma-0 and Ocean Wind Vectors (Dunbar) | 2 | ADEOS-I | NSCAT | 1996-09-15 to 1997-06-29 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
25000 Meters x 25000 Meters | RAW |
| NSCAT Level 2 Ocean Wind Vector Ambiguity Removal Overlay (Hoffman, AER) | 2 | ADEOS-I | NSCAT | 1996-09-15 to 1997-06-29 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
25000 Meters x 25000 Meters | ASCII |
| NSCAT Level 2 Ocean Wind Vector Geophysical Data Record | 2 | ADEOS-I | NSCAT | 1996-09-15 to 1997-06-29 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
50000 Meters x 50000 Meters | HDF |
| NSCAT Level 3 Daily Gridded Ocean Surface Wind Vector Browse Images (JPL) | 2 | ADEOS-I | NSCAT | 1996-09-15 to 1997-06-29 |
N: 75 S: -75 E: 180 W: -180 |
0.5 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees | GIF |
| NSCAT Level 3 Daily Gridded Ocean Surface Wind Vectors (JPL) | 2 | ADEOS-I | NSCAT | 1996-09-15 to 1997-06-30 |
N: 75 S: -75 E: 180 W: -180 |
0.5 Decimal Degrees x 0.5 Decimal Degrees | HDF |
| Oceansat-2 Scatterometer Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites Version 2 | 2 | IRS-O2 | OSCAT | 2010-01-16 to 2014-02-20 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: 0 N: 90 S: -90 E: 0 W: -180 |
12500 Meters x 12500 Meters | netCDF-4 |
| Parametrized Rain Impact Model for SMAP L2 V1.0 | 1.0 | SMAP | SMAP L-BAND RADIOMETER | 2015-03-31 to 2021-10-01 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
netCDF4 | |
| QuikSCAT ESDR Level 2 Ancillary Ocean Surface Fields Version 1.1 | 1.1 | MODELS, QUIKSCAT | Computer, SEAWINDS | 2000-06-01 to 2009-11-22 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
12.5 Kilometers x 12.5 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| QUIKSCAT Inter-Calibrated ESDR Level 2 Observed and Modeled Spatial Derivatives of Surface Wind and Wind Stress Version 1.0 | 1.0 | QUIKSCAT | SEAWINDS | 1999-10-27 to 2009-11-23 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
12.5 Kilometers x 12.5 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| QuikSCAT Level 1C Averaged Sigma-0 and Winds from Non-spinning Antenna Version 2.0 | 2.0 | QUIKSCAT | SEAWINDS | 2010-07-16 to 2018-08-30 |
N: 89.875 S: -89.875 E: 180 W: -180 |
25000 Meters x 25000 Meters | RAW |
| QuikSCAT Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites Version 3 | 3 | QUIKSCAT | SEAWINDS | 1999-10-27 to 2009-11-22 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
12.5 Kilometers x 12.5 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| QuikSCAT Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites Version 3.1 | 3.1 | QUIKSCAT | SEAWINDS | 1999-10-27 to 2009-11-22 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
12500 Meters x 12500 Meters | netCDF-4 |
| QuikSCAT Level 2B Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Slice Composites Version 4.1 | 4.1 | QUIKSCAT | SEAWINDS | 1999-10-27 to 2009-11-22 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
12500 Meters x 12500 Meters | netCDF-4 |
| QuikSCAT Scatterometer Inter-Calibrated ESDR Level 2 Ocean Surface Equivalent Neutral Wind Vectors and Wind Stress Vectors Version 1.1 | 1.1 | QUIKSCAT | SEAWINDS | 1999-10-27 to 2009-11-22 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
12.5 Kilometers x 12.5 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| QuikSCAT Scatterometer Inter-Calibrated ESDR Level 3 Ocean Surface Equivalent Neutral Wind Vectors and Wind Stress Version 1.0 | 1.0 | QUIKSCAT | SEAWINDS | 1999-10-27 to 2009-11-24 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
0.125 Decimal Degrees x 0.125 Decimal Degrees | netCDF-4 |
| RADARSAT-1 Level 0 Product | 1 | RADARSAT-1 | SAR | 1996-02-01 to 2009-03-17 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
||
| RADARSAT-1 Level 1 Product | 1 | RADARSAT-1 | SAR | 1996-02-01 to 2009-03-17 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
||
| RapidScat Level 2B Climate Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Footprints | 1.0 | ISS | RapidScat | 2014-10-03 to 2016-08-19 |
N: 61 S: -61 E: 180 W: -180 |
12.5 Kilometers x 12.5 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| RapidScat Level 2B Climate Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Footprints Version 2.0 | 2.0 | ISS | RapidScat | 2014-10-08 to 2016-08-19 |
N: 61 S: -61 E: 180 W: -180 |
12500 Meters x 12500 Meters | netCDF-4 |
Featured Ocean Winds Observation Method: S-MODE
The Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE) was a NASA campaign studying small-scale ocean eddies and fronts. S-MODE consisted of three deployments off the coast of San Francisco during the fall of 2021-2022 and spring of 2023. Airborne measurements were taken with different remote instruments including the Doppler Scatterometry (DopplerScatt), Multiscale Observing System of the Ocean Surface (MOSES), Modular Aerial Sensing System (MASS), and Portable Remote Imaging SpectroMeter (PRISM). In-situ measurements were obtained through research vessels, gliders, drifters, and other water-based platforms.
The S-MODE project combined airborne remote sensing and in-situ data to reveal upper-ocean dynamics and small-scale ocean features.
Join us to learn more about the Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE) and how to access and use its free and open data.
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