Aircraft and satellite measurement of ocean wave directional spectra using scanning‐beam microwave radars

Abstract

A microwave radar technique for remotely measuring the vector wave number spectrum of the ocean surface is described. The technique, which employs short‐pulse, noncoherent radars in a conical scan mode near vertical incidence, is shown to be suitable for both aircraft and satellite application. The technique has been validated at 10 km aircraft altitude, where we have found excellent agreement between buoy and radar‐inferred absolute wave height spectra.