Goasex Observations of Seasat SAR Cross-Section Modulation from Surface Winds

Author

Thompson, T.W. ; Weissman, D.E. ; Gonzalez, F.I.

Author_Institution

Planetary Sci. Inst. Sci. Applic., Inc., Pasadena, CA, USA

fYear

1980

fDate

8-10 Sept. 1980

Firstpage

527

Lastpage

530

Abstract

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 5m/s and 20m/s is related to wind speed and direction by the following: σ_O α U^a (1 + b cos (2φ)) where σ_O = 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.

Keywords

oceanographic regions; oceanographic techniques; remote sensing by radar; synthetic aperture radar; wind; Gulf of Alaska; L-band backscatter analysis; L-band radar cross-section; Seasat SAR cross-section modulation; Seasat radar observation; Synthetic Aperture Radar; high resolution maps; surface wind effect; wind speed scatterometer data; Extraterrestrial measurements; Instruments; L-band; Oceans; Radar cross section; Radar tracking; Sea measurements; Spaceborne radar; Synthetic aperture radar; Wind speed;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

OCEANS '80

Conference_Location

Seattle, WA

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/OCEANS.1980.1151357

Filename

1151357