Title
Cross-Polarization Radar Backscattering From the Ocean Surface and Its Dependence on Wind Velocity
Abstract
Recent wind retrieval algorithms using crosspolarization (cross-pol) radar sea return (VH) assume that VH is independent on the azimuth angle and mainly varies with the wind speed. Incidence angle dependence is either absent or is only in wind speeds less than 21 m/s. However, azimuth and incidence angle variations are expected since theory and data comparisons show the dominance of surface effects in the scattering mechanisms; thus, both co-polarization and cross-pol cross sections reflect the directional distribution of the ocean surface roughness and wave breaking. Here, the VH dependence on wind velocity is analyzed with special focus on the variations with the incidence and azimuth angles. The results show that, for the typical incidence angle range of radar images used for hurricane wind retrieval (20°-50°), the magnitude of these angular variations is equivalent to a difference of about 10 m/s in the retrieved wind speed for low-to-strong winds (<; ~21 m/s) and probably for strong-to-severe winds (> ~21 m/s) as well. It is prudent to incorporate the incidence angle dependence and the azimuth angle dependence in the wind retrieval algorithm and in the signal simulation for the design of next-generation scatterometers. The dependence on the wind speed is also examined. It reconfirms that the VH sensitivity increases toward high winds, but signal saturation may occur.
Year
DOI
Venue
2014
10.1109/LGRS.2014.2324276
Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, IEEE
Keywords
Field
DocType
ocean waves,oceanographic techniques,remote sensing by radar,wind,azimuth angle,cross-polarization radar backscattering,cross-polarization radar sea return,hurricane wind retrieval,next-generation scatterometer design,ocean surface roughness,scattering mechanisms,signal saturation,wave breaking,wind retrieval algorithms,wind speed,wind velocity,Cross-polarization (cross-pol),radar scattering,sea surface,wind
Log wind profile,Roughness length,Wind speed,Remote sensing,Wind wave model,Azimuth,Wind gradient,Wind profile power law,Wind shear,Mathematics
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
11
12
1545-598X
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
11
1.03
6
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Paul A. Hwang14212.90
William Perrie210527.21
Biao Zhang39723.66