A Ku-band low incidence model for wind speed retrieval from TRMM precipitation radar data

Abstract

A new Ku-band low incidence model (KuLMOD) is proposed for retrieving wind speeds from Tropical Rainfall Mapping Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) data. The data set consisted of TRMM PR observations and collocated National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoy-measured wind and wave data. The TRMM PR data properties were analyzed regarding their dependence on the wind speed. The KuLMOD model was developed using incidence angles (0.5–6.5°) and wind speeds (1.5–16.5 m/s) as inputs. The model coefficients were derived by fitting the collocated data. With the KuLMOD, the wind speeds were retrieved from the TRMM PR data using the least squares method and validated with the NDBC buoy measurements, yielding a root mean square error of 1.57 m/s. The retrieval accuracies for the different incidence angles and wind speeds are presented.