Investigation of the ocean backscatter during high wind events. II. Analyses and revised high wind backscatter models

Abstract

For pt.I see ibid., p.2311-13 (1998). A series of airborne scatterometer experiments designed to collect C- and Ku-band ocean backscatter data in regions of high ocean surface winds has recently been completed. Over 100 hours of data were collected using the University of Massachusetts' C- and Ku-band scatterometers, CSCAT and KUSCAT. The authors' results demonstrate limitations of the current empirical models that relate ocean backscatter to the near surface wind at high-wind speeds. The scatterometer data is collocated with measurements from ocean data buoys and GPS dropsondes, and a Fourier analysis is performed as a function of wind regime. This revised model is the basis for a discussion of the NRCS at high wind speeds. Their scatterometer data shows a clear over prediction of the derived NRCS response to high winds based on the CMOD4, SASSII and NSCAT1 models. Furthermore, saturation of the NRCS response begins to occur above 20 m/spl middot/s/sup -1/.