Ocean surface wind prediction
Sea surface winds obtained by HY-2 microwave scatterometer are added into China’s marine wind prediction model system, and thus provide better initial conditions and improve prediction skills. The use of HY-2 scatterometer wind observations in marine prediction marks a new era in marine environmental prediction without using other sources of wind observations. The application of HY-2 scatterometer winds in numerical models improves China’s marine environmental prediction abilities and thus meets the needs of national economics and security.
Sea level rise decision support
The long time-series of HY-2 satellite altimeter measurements of sea surface height, combined with data from China’s coastal and polar stations, are used to establish sea level rise decision support system to support sea level rise hazards and prevention.
Ocean waves prediction and assimilation
The significant wave height and sea surface wind derived from HY-2 satellite are assimilated into China’s numerical wave model to improve marine environmental prediction skills
Data assimilation in ocean model
The sea surface temperature and height data of HY-2 satellite are assimilated into 3-D ocean numerical model to improve ocean model prediction accuracy and skills.
Storm surge monitoring
The sea surface height and winds data of HY-2 satellite as well as data from coastal stations and buoys are used for the storm surge hazards prevention decision support system. The use of these data improves China’s ability in storm surge hazard prevention and decision making.
Sea ice monitoring and forecasting
The brightness temperature of HY-2 microwave radiometer, together with sea ice observations from other satellites and in situ observations, is used to monitor and predict sea ice hazards, and to improve sea ice hazard prevention and decision making.
Oceanic gravity field
The variations of sea surface dynamic height observed by the HY-2 satellite and ship measurements are used to compute and monitor oceanic gravity field.
Air-sea interaction
The HY-2 satellite measurements of sea surface temperature and winds and in situ measurements of sea surface fluxes are used to study air-sea interaction. The HY-2 satellite data is used to quantify air-sea interaction and monitor its variations, and thus provide observations to study climate change and global warming.
Oceanic fishery
The combined use of measurements of sea surface temperature, winds and waves from HY-2 satellite and ocean color from HY-1 satellite is important in the open ocean fishery application system. Measurements of HY-2 radar altimeter and scanning microwave radiometer may identify oceanic fronts and mesoscale eddies, and detect the ocean fishing ground. The radar altimeter, microwave scatterometer and microwave radiometer are useful for improving the weather forecasting accuracy for ocean fishing.
