Ku- and Ka-Band Ocean Surface Radar Backscatter Model Functions at Low-Incidence Angles Using Full-Swath GPM DPR Data

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the first characterization of coincident Ku- and Ka-band ocean surface normalized radar cross section measurements at earth incidence angles 0°–18° using one year of wide swath Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission dual frequency precipitation radar (DPR) data. Empirical geophysical model functions were derived for both bands, isotropic and directorial sensitivity were assessed, and finally, sea surface temperature (SST) dependence of radar backscatter, at both bands, were investigated. The Ka-band exhibited higher vector wind sensitivity for a low-to-moderate wind speeds regime, and the SST effects were also observed to be substantially larger at Ka-band than at Ku-band.

Keywords

• ocean normalized radar cross section
• near-nadir
• GPM-core observatory
• DPR
• sea surface roughness scattering
• space borne radar