In Situ–Based Pseudo–Wind Stress Products for the Tropical Oceans

Abstract

Quality wind stress fields are desired for a wide range of oceanographic and atmospheric studies. An overview is presented of the monthly quick-look and research-quality tropical ocean wind (pseudostress) products produced for the Pacific and Indian Oceans by The Florida State University (FSU) and for the Atlantic Ocean by the French Institut de Recherche pour le Développement [IRD; formerly Institut Français de Re-cherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération (ORSTOM)]. This review article briefly discusses the current state of tropical wind stress products, including an introduction to the new objective FSU analysis technique and advancements in the IRD method. The primary focus is a detailed discussion of how the FSU and IRD pseudostress fields evolved from early subjective in situ analysis techniques. The historical retrospective introduces the scientific motivation, development, and methodology for each product. Examples of the wide range of scientific research and operational applications of the FSU and IRD products are provided.