FY 1981

SEASAT SAR cross-section modulation by surface winds: GOASEX observations

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

Geophys. Res. Lett., 8(2), doi: 10.1029/GL008i002p00159, 159–162 (1981)

Seasat radar observations of 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 in related to wind speed and direction by the following: σ⁰ α U^a [1 + b cos (2φ], where σ⁰ = L-band radar cross-section, U = Wind speed, φ = 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.