FY 1980

GOASEX observations of SEASAT SAR cross-section modulation from surface winds

Thompson, T.W., D.E. Weissman, and F.I. González

In Conference Record Oceans 180, An International Forum on Ocean Engineering in the 1980's, IEEE Publication No. 80CH1572-7, IEEE, New York, Seattle, WA, 8–10 September 1980, 527–529 (1980)

Seasat radar observations of the ocean in the Gulf of Alaska by the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and the Wind Speed Scatterometer (SASS) indicates that L-band backscatter is modulated by wind speed and possibly by wind direction. In particular, L-band radar cross-section of the ocean at 23° ± 3° angle of incidence and wind speeds between 5 m/s and 20 m/s is related to wind speed and direction by the following: U (1 + b cos (2) where = L-band radar cross-section; U = Wind speed; = wind-radar angle; a = 0.5 ± 0.1; b = 0.05 ± 0.05. This relationship suggests that a combination of Seasat SAR and Scatterometer data may yield high resolution maps of surface winds.