Validation of ocean wind vector retrievals from WindSat polarimetric measurements

Abstract

Using several months of WindSat measurements collocated with the NCEP Global Data Assimilation System model field, the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) measurements and QuikScat scatterometry measurements, we have derived an empirical geophysical model that describes radiometric vector for all WindSat channels, as a function of surface parameters: wind speed, wind direction and sea surface temperature, and atmospheric parameters: total precipitable water and cloud liquid water. This model function was then used to develop an ocean surface wind vector retrieval algorithm from WindSat polarimetric measurements. The accuracy of the retrieved wind vectors was quantified using several months of WindSat measurements collocated with the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) measurements and QuikSCAT scatterometry measurements.