Dual‐polarized C‐ and Ku‐band ocean backscatter response to hurricane‐force winds

Airborne ocean backscatter measurements at C‐ and Ku‐band wavelengths and H and V polarizations at multiple incidence angles obtained in moderate to very high wind speed conditions (25–65 m s −1 ) during missions through several tropical cyclones are presented. These measurements clearly show that the normalized radar cross sections (NRCS) response stops increasing at hurricane‐force winds for both frequency bands and polarizations except for high incidence angles at C‐band and H polarization. The results also show the mean NRCS departing from a power law behavior for all the presented frequency bands, polarizations, and incidence angles, suggesting a reduction in the drag coefficient. The overall flattening of the azimuthal response of the NRCS is also very apparent in all cases. A new set of geophysical model functions (GMFs) at C‐ and Ku‐band are developed from these direct ocean backscatter observations for ocean surface winds ranging from 25 to 65 m s −1 . The developed GMFs provide a much more accurate characterization of the NRCS versus wind speed and direction, and their implementation in operational retrieval algorithms from satellite‐based scatterometer observations would result in better wind fields. The differences between these measurements and other currently available GMFs, such as QuikSCAT, NSCAT2, CMOD4, and CMOD5, are reported. The implementation of these GMFs in retrieval algorithms will result in better wind fields from satellite‐based scatterometers measurements.