Gale Wind Speed Retrieval Algorithm Using Ku-Band Radar Data Onboard GPM Satellite

Abstract

An algorithm to retrieve the wind speed within a wide swath from the normalized radar cross section (NRCS) is developed for the data of Ku-band radar operating in scanning mode installed onboard the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite. NRCS at the nadir is calculated within a wide swath and is used to obtain the wind speed. The scatterometer data are used to obtain the dependence between NRCS at the nadir and the wind speed for gale winds. The algorithm was validated also using the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) data and revealed good accuracy.

Keywords

• dual frequency precipitation radar
• global precipitation measurement satellite
• near nadir normalized radar cross section
• high wind speed
• cyclone