Research on Wind Vector Observation from SIR C/X SAR Data: Case Study of SIR C/X SAR Experiment over South China Sea
航天飞机成像雷达海面风矢量观测研究——以1994年4月南中国海试验区为例

The radar backscattering from the ocean surface results mainly from the Bragg scattering caused by the short gravity waves, which are related to wind vector, boundary layer phenomena, etc. Hence, it is reasonable to retrieve the wind field information from the radar cross section of the ocean surface. Much work has been done on deriving the ocean spectra from SAR imagery and wind speed from radar cross section. In this paper, the (SIR C)/(X SAR) data acquired in April, 1994 are analyzed over the South China Sea. Firstly, the SAR image spectra are calculated, and the wind direction is estimated. The wind speed is derived using the sigma naught of the C band data with the CMOD4 model. The results are validated with the composite model. It is shown that SAR is one of useful tools for the retrieval of comprehensive wind information over the ocean.