Abstract
Theoretical-based ocean wave retrieval algorithms are applied by inverting a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) intensity spectrum into a wave spectrum, that has been developed based on a SAR wave mapping mechanism. In our previous studies, it was shown that the wave retrieval algorithm, named the parameterized first-guess spectrum method (PFSM), works for C-band and X-band SAR at low to moderate sea states. In this work, we investigate the performance of the PFSM algorithm when it is applied for dual-polarization c-band sentinel-1 (S-1) SAR acquired in extra wide-swath (EW) and interferometric wide-swath (IW) mode under cyclonic conditions. Strong winds are retrieved from six vertical-horizontal (VH) polarization S-1 SAR images using the c-band cross-polarization coupled-parameters ocean (C-3PO) model and then wave parameters are obtained from the image at the vertical-vertical (VV) polarization channel. significant wave height (SWH) and mean wave period (MWP) are compared with simulations from the WAVEWATCH-III (WW3) model. The validation shows a 0.69 m root mean square error (RMSE) of SWH with a −0.01 m bias and a 0.62 s RMSE of MWP with a −0.17 s bias. Although the PFSM algorithm relies on a good quality SAR spectrum, this study confirms the applicability for wave retrieval from an S-1 SAR image. Moreover, it is found that the retrieved results have less accuracy on the right sector of cyclone eyes where swell directly affects strong wind-sea, while the PFSM algorithm works well on the left and rear sectors of cyclone eyes where the interaction of wind-sea and swell is relatively poor.
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Acknowledgements
We appreciate the provision by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the source code for the WAVE-WATCH-III (WW3) model supplied free of charge. We also thank the following: European Space Agency (ESA) for providing Sentinel-1 (S-1) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images via https://scihub.copernicus.eu. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) for providing reanalysis wind data at a 0.125° grid that can be openly downloaded via http://www.ecmwf.int. The General Bathymetry Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) for data downloaded via: https://doi.org/ftp.edcftp.cr.usgs.gov. The information on cyclones provided by NOAA was downloaded via https://coast.noaa.gov/hurricanes. WindSAT winds at a 0.25° grid we kindly provided by the Remote Sensing System (RSS) team, which authorizes an account issued for downloading the data via the sever: https://doi.org/ftp.remss.com. The views, opinions, and findings contained in this report are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official NOAA or U.S. Government position, policy or decision.
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Foundation item: The National Key Research and Development Program of China under contract No. 2017YFA0604901; the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 41806005 and 41776183; the Public Welfare Technical Applied Research Project of Zhejiang Province of China under contract No. LGF19D060003.
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Ding, Y., Zuo, J., Shao, W. et al. Wave parameters retrieval for dual-polarization C-band synthetic aperture radar using a theoretical-based algorithm under cyclonic conditions. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 38, 21–31 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-019-1438-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-019-1438-y