[1] From the Surface Velocity Program (SVP) drifter current and QuikSCAT wind data, the relationship between the observed near-surface current vectors and surface wind vectors for the northwestern Pacific Ocean under high winds (20-50 m s À1 ) are obtained with quantitative estimations of near-surface drift ratio (current speed versus wind speed) r ($2%) and near-surface drift angle a ($0 -10 to the right of the winds). These estimations keep unchanged after removing the surface geostrophic component. From the SVP drifter current and daily WindSat wind data, the estimated r is still approximately 2%. Three linear regression equations are obtained between the observed near-surface current speeds and the surface wind stress for the high wind range.