Ocean Wave Slope Observations Using Radar Backscatter and Laser Altimeters

Abstract Combination of laser and radar aboard an aircraft is used to directly measure long gravity wave surface tilting simultaneously with nadir-viewing microwave backscatter from the sea surface. The presented dataset is extensive, encompassing varied wind conditions over coastal and open-ocean wave regimes. Laser-derived slope statistics and Ka-band (36 GHz) radar backscatter are detailed separately to document their respective variations versus near-surface wind speed. The slope statistics, measured for λ > 1–2 m, show good agreement with Cox and Munk's oil-slickened sea measurements. A notable exception is elevated distribution peakedness and an observed wind dependence in this likely proxy for nonlinear wave–wave interactions. Aircraft Ka-band radar data nearly mimic Ku-band satellite altimeter observations in their mean wind dependence. The present calibrated radar data, along with relevant observational and theoretical studies, suggest a large (−5 dB) bias in previous Ka-band results. Next, wave-...

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