Passive Microwave Measurements of Sea Surface Roughness

Abstract

Passive microwave measurements of the sea surface were made from Argus Island tower at 1.41, 8.36, and 19.34 GHz over a range in wind speeds from calm to 15 m/s. These measurements show a definite frequency-dependent correlation between the microwave brightness temperature and wind speed. This dependence results from roughness effects of the compact sea surface associated with wind-driven waves.