The SSM/I wind speed parameter estimates the ocean wind speed by sensing the roughness of the ocean's surface caused by the surface wind. It does not give wind direction. It is valid for ocean areas 50 km (25 nm) or a greater distance away from the nearest coastline. Unless there is precipitation, the accuracy of the wind speed parameter is 2 m/s (4 kt) or better. The presence of rain between the satellite and the ocean surface obscures the satellite's view of the ocean and can degrade the accuracy of wind speed estimates by large amounts. In this document, rain-flagged areas are "blacked-out" to avoid misinterpretation by the user. Wind speeds are not reliable for speeds greater than about 20 m/s (40 kt). In the examples here, high wind speeds, like precipitation contamination and coastal contamination, areblacked out. Thus, the SSM/I wind speed parameter cannot be used to estimate wind speeds in especially intense storm systems or tropical cyclones. In these storms, rain contamination and high winds often combine to render the SSM/I wind parameter nearly useless. The surface wind speed represents the wind speed 19.5 meters above the sea surface. The surface wind speed is based on the roughening of the sea surface caused by the wind. The higher the wind, the more the sea surface roughening, and the higher the brightness temperature sensed by the SSM/I channels. This translates into a higher computed wind.

The SSM/I integrated water vapor parameter (IWV) shows the water vapor contained in a vertically integrated column above the surface of the ocean. It is measured in kilograms per meter squared. It is valid for ocean areas only. It strongly represents conditions near the surface of the ocean. In other words, high values of IWV mean that the boundary layer is moist, as in the tropics. Low values indicate that the boundary layer is dry, as near the poles. It is very different from the geostationary water vapor image, shown in the same composite. The geostationary image represents conditions in the mid troposphere. It doesn't "see" down to surface moisture conditions, as does the SSM/I. This difference explains the different appearances of the two vapor products.

The IWV product does not give the height of the different layers of atmospheric moisture. Thus, it is not a sounder. It can only estimate a top-to-bottom value.

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The Integrated Water Vapor (IWV) product is useful to assess how moist the lowest layers of the atmosphere are. It often correlates well with the Sea Surface Temperature (SST). Where the SST is high, the IWV is often high, suggesting a warm humid environment. Where the SST is low, the IWV is often low, suggesting cool dry conditions.

The IWV is a useful indicator of atmospheric fronts. A strong gradient often indicates a frontal boundary. High values equator-ward of the front indicate warm, moist air. Low values pole-ward of the front indicate cooler, dryer, postfrontal air.

Perhaps the biggest problem is that the SSM/I can only provide wind speed, not wind direction. This can make the viewing of SSM/I winds confusing for some forecasters. Another spacecraft sensor, called a "scatterometer", is truly an active microwave (radar) system. It can show both wind speed and direction.

The disadvantages of the Integrated Water Vapor (IWV) display are several.

1. It only gives one value representing moisture conditions in the entire troposphere; it does not give moisture by level.

2. It is not available over land or ice.

3. It does not give relative humidity. In other words, it can not assess how close a given air mass is to saturation, i.e. clouds.

The IWV product (lower right on 4-panel on the left) shows higher moisture values south of Spain and France (light blue) than south of Italy (dark blue). The moist air in the western region originated in the Atlantic, whereas the dry air in the eastern region was advected in from the dry interior of Europe.