Ocean Radar Cross Section Modeling Using Airborne Scatterometer Measurements During FASINEX

A new measurement program, to develop more precise relationships between the microwave (Ku-band) radar cross section and the ocean surface variables that affect the roughness and reflectivity, is in progress. An extensive data set was obtained during the Frontal Air-Sea Interaction Experiment (FASINEX) during the Winter of 1986 in the Atlantic south of Bermuda. Of interest in this study are the airborne Scatterometer measurements that were coincident with surface wind speed and stress measurements from aircraft and ships, and the directional surface wave spectrum. The airborne radar data set spans several different flights (typically at an altitude of 3000 feet) during which there were a variety of different atmospheric and ocean conditions. The RCS data is being correlated with these physical variables to create new and more general algorithms for remote sensing applications. This also includes a variety of radar parameters such as incidence angle of the radar beam, the polarization and a circular sweep of look direction relative to the wind vector.