An Analysis of Skylab II S193 Scatterometer Data

Abstract

SKYLAB II S193 Scatterometer data for the passes of June 5, 1973, over the Gulf of Mexico and June 6, 1973, over Pacific Hurricane AVA were analyzed. These two passes were chosen since it was possible to correlate the scattering data with simultaneous measurements of the local ocean wind conditions. The S193 scatterometer measured the radar cross section of the ocean at 13.9 GHz (Ku-band) as a function of incidence angle. The S193 data of June 5, 1973, when a practically uniform wind field was present, show reasonable agreement with the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) empirical and theoretical models. The data of June 6, 1973, are more complex, due to rapid variations in wind speeds and directions around Hurricane AVA. The NRL empirical model was interpolated to account for variation in wind heading relative to the S193 antenna pointing direction; a reasonable comparison could then be made with the corresponding S193 data of June 6, 1973.