Comparison of a polarimetric scattering and emission model with ocean backscatter and brightness measurements

Investigates theoretical scattering models of sea surfaces for polarimetric remote sensing of near-surface ocean wind vectors. A two-scale polarimetric scattering and emission model is developed to interpret existing active and passive remote sensing microwave signatures of sea surfaces. Theoretical backscattering coefficients are compared with the SASS geophysical model function and aircraft scatterometer data to determine the model parameters. With the same parameters, model-predicted azimuthal modulations of Stokes parameters of thermal radiation agree reasonably well with the SSM/I geophysical model function and aircraft radiometer data. The results indicate that the azimuthal modulations observed in microwave backscatter as well as in emission data are caused by the same anisotropic directional surface features due to wind forcing