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Dryad

Data for: Multi-LEO satellite stereo winds

Carr, James1; Wu, Dong2; Friberg, Mariel3; Summers, Tyler4

Research facility: Goddard Space Flight Center
Published Apr 24, 2023 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rfj6q57g5

Data files

Apr 24, 2023 version files 1 GB

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Abstract

The stereo-winds method follows trackable atmospheric cloud features from multiple viewing perspectives over multiple times, generally involving multiple satellite platforms. Multi-temporal observations provide information about the wind velocity and the observed parallax between viewing perspectives provides information about the height. The stereo-winds method requires no prior assumptions about the thermal profile of the atmosphere to assign a wind height, since the height of the tracked feature is directly determined from the viewing geometry. The method is well developed for pairs of Geostationary (GEO) satellites and a GEO paired with a Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite. However, neither GEO-GEO nor GEO-LEO configurations provide coverage of the poles. In this paper, we develop the stereo-winds method for multi-LEO configurations, to extend coverage from pole to pole. The most promising multi-LEO constellation studied consists of Terra/MODIS and Sentinel-3/SLSTR. Stereo-wind products are validated using clear-sky terrain measurements, spaceborne LiDAR, and reanalysis winds for winter and summer over both poles. Applications of multi-LEO polar stereo winds range from polar atmospheric circulation to nighttime cloud identification. Low cloud detection during polar nighttime is extremely challenging for satellite remote sensing. The stereo-winds method can improve polar cloud observations in otherwise challenging conditions.