Generation of cygnss level 2 wind speed data products

An overview of the wind speed retrieval algorithm used to generate the first CYGNSS Level 2 wind speed products is presented. The algorithm uses two observables derived from Level 1b calibrated Delay/Doppler Maps, and constructs a geophysical model function which maps the observable value and its associated incidence angle into a wind speed value. The wind estimates from the two observables are also combined to form a best-weighted estimator, which represents our final retrieved wind speed. Here the major steps needed to implement the algorithm are reviewed, with a focus on some new aspects, such as the characterization of the dependence of the observables on incidence angle based on real data. An analysis of the algorithm performance is also presented.