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

Abstract

The algorithm to retrieve wind speed in a wide swath from the normalized radar cross section (NRCS) was developed for the data of Dual Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) operating in scanning mode installed onboard a Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite. The data for Ku-band radar were used. Equivalent NRCS values at nadir were estimated in a wide swath under the geometrical optics approximation from off-nadir observations. Using these equivalent NRCS nadir values and the sea buoys data, the new parameterization of dependence between NRCS at nadir and the wind speed was obtained. The algorithm was validated using ASCAT (Advanced Scatterometer) data and revealed good accuracy. DPR data are promising for determining wind speed in coastal areas.

Keywords

• Dual Frequency Precipitation Radar
• global precipitation measurement satellite
• near-nadir normalized radar cross-section
• wind speed