Analysis and interpretation of ERS-1 SAR detected wind rows relative to observed air-sea interaction processes

SAR images obtained during an ERS-1 calibration/validation campaign conducted off the west coast of Norway, NORCSEX´91, are examined. The examination is based on in situ data including shipboard measured surface layer vector wind, thermal stability, and rawinsonde derived atmospheric boundary layer profiles. FFT analyses on the SAR images provided vector information on low-wavenumber structure. For two overpasses, derived direction and spatial separation for coherent structures were compared with model prediction for features of organized large planetary boundary layer eddies. The feature are related to the mixed-layer vector wind and depth. Predicted wind directions were in agreement with observed and mixed layer depths in relative agreement