Methods to homogenize wind speeds from ships and buoys

Thomas, B.R., Kent, E.C. and Swail, V.R. (2005) Methods to homogenize wind speeds from ships and buoys. International Journal of Climatology, 25 (7), 979-995. (doi:10.1002/joc.1176).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Marine winds reported by Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS) and moored buoys require adjustment to provide a homogeneous record of the marine climate. Known sources of inhomogeneity arise from differences in measurement height and method, averaging method and atmospheric stability; methods are available to correct for these. However, significant differences remain in a paired dataset of ship and buoy winds. Regression methods to remove this remaining inconsistency are discussed, and a ranked regression method chosen as most appropriate to adjust ship wind speeds to yield a similar distribution. We show the factors, such as vessel type, that affect the regression results. The corrections, derived from a high-quality paired dataset with rigorous quality control, are effective at reducing inhomogeneity in monthly mean wind speed distributions derived from the International Comprehensive Ocean–Atmosphere Data Set.

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