Measurements of surface wind on the ocean using an airborne radar looking at small incidence angles

Presents the results obtained from an airborne radar aiming the ocean surface at small incidence angles (7 to 21° from nadir). This system was initially designed for the measurement of the directional spectra of large waves, but the authors shows that information on the surface wind can also be obtained in this incidence angle range. The results are compared with wind estimates (in speed and direction) provided by a second airborne scatterometer, which looks at a greater incidence angle (≈45°), as is usually the case for wind scatterometers