Investigation of the azimuthal response of off-nadir backscatter from the ocean surface

The University of Massachusetts participated in several field campaigns collecting C-band and Ku-band backscatter measurements of the ocean surface with a C-band and a Ku-band airborne scatterometer. These two instruments conically scanned the ocean surface providing the full backscatter response at 21°, 31°, 41.5 and 52° incidence. During the field campaigns winds ranging from less than 1 m·s^-1 to greater than 30 m·s^-1 were sampled. These observations will be presented and the full azimuthal response at both frequencies characterized with emphasis on the location of the minima