Statistical problems of wind-generated gravity waves arising in microwave remote sensing of surface winds

The basic geometric features of a developed sea surface affecting the accuracy of wind speed measurements by satellite instruments are reviewed. Based on Seasat scatterometer, Geosat altimeter, and DMSP-SSM/I (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Special Sensor Microwave/Imager) observations collocated with buoy data, error trends in the satellite winds are shown to be correlated with various measures of wave development. These trends are explained by examining the RMS wave slope of energy-containing waves which, directly or indirectly, affects all microwave techniques. Statistics of temporal-spatial rates of steep and breaking waves (affecting the scatterometer and radiometer measurements) are derived and compared with field observations. >

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