Wind fields from satellite

Offshore wind fields are retrieved from satellite data in near-real-time by Risø DTU. At present, we have an extensive database of wind maps derived from the advanced synthetic aperture radar system on board the ENVISAT satellite. The maps in the database are concentrated mainly in the coastal regions of Northern Europe and the Middle East. They can be viewed here.

The Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) has developed the APL/NOAA SAR Wind Retrieval System (ANSWRS) that we currently use for ocean wind field retrievals. ANSWRS produces high-resolution (<1 km) wind speed fields initialized using wind directions determined by the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS).

An example wind field over Denmark is seen here. Wind speeds are high in the Baltic where the background color is red and lower towards the Norwegian coast where the background color is blue. NOGAPS wind vectors are superimposed using the same color coding. They show that winds are blowing from easterly directions. Sheltering effects are therefore seen on the western side of the islands and the main land.

Click here to view the image in Google Earth.

Page updated by 04.11.2009

Merete Badger
Scientist
Wind Energy (VEA)
Dir tel+45 4677 5002