Global Investigation of Wind–Wave Interaction Using Spaceborne SAR Measurements
Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has been widely acknowledged for its advantages in collecting ocean surface measurements under all weather conditions during day and night. Despite the strongly nonlinear imaging process, SAR measurements of ocean waves provide an invaluable resource for stu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/3/433 |
| _version_ | 1827305948289433600 |
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| author | Huimin Li Yijun He |
| author_facet | Huimin Li Yijun He |
| author_sort | Huimin Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has been widely acknowledged for its advantages in collecting ocean surface measurements under all weather conditions during day and night. Despite the strongly nonlinear imaging process, SAR measurements of ocean waves provide an invaluable resource for studies into wave dynamics at the global scale. In this study, we take advantage of a newly defined parameter, the mean cross-spectrum (MACS) at a discrete wavenumber along the sensor line-of-sight axis, to further investigate the ocean wave properties. With the range peak wavenumber extracted from the MACS profile, together with the collocated model winds, the inverse wave age (iwa) is estimated. As an indicator of local wind–wave coupling, the global map of the iwa depicts a distinct pattern, with larger iwa values observed in the storm tracks. In addition to the mean, stronger variability in the iwa is also found in the storm tracks, while the iwa remains relatively steady in the trade winds with lower variability. This makes the SAR-derived iwa a significant parameter in reflecting the varying degrees of wind–wave coupling in variable geographical locations across the ocean basins. It will help to promote the practical application of SAR measurements, as well as advancing our understanding of ocean wave dynamics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:07:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa866f388441482081de1e4c39298760 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:07:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa866f388441482081de1e4c392987602024-03-27T13:49:15ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122024-02-0112343310.3390/jmse12030433Global Investigation of Wind–Wave Interaction Using Spaceborne SAR MeasurementsHuimin Li0Yijun He1School of Marine Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSchool of Marine Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, ChinaSpaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has been widely acknowledged for its advantages in collecting ocean surface measurements under all weather conditions during day and night. Despite the strongly nonlinear imaging process, SAR measurements of ocean waves provide an invaluable resource for studies into wave dynamics at the global scale. In this study, we take advantage of a newly defined parameter, the mean cross-spectrum (MACS) at a discrete wavenumber along the sensor line-of-sight axis, to further investigate the ocean wave properties. With the range peak wavenumber extracted from the MACS profile, together with the collocated model winds, the inverse wave age (iwa) is estimated. As an indicator of local wind–wave coupling, the global map of the iwa depicts a distinct pattern, with larger iwa values observed in the storm tracks. In addition to the mean, stronger variability in the iwa is also found in the storm tracks, while the iwa remains relatively steady in the trade winds with lower variability. This makes the SAR-derived iwa a significant parameter in reflecting the varying degrees of wind–wave coupling in variable geographical locations across the ocean basins. It will help to promote the practical application of SAR measurements, as well as advancing our understanding of ocean wave dynamics.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/3/433Envisat/ASARcross-spectrum profileinverse wave age |
| spellingShingle | Huimin Li Yijun He Global Investigation of Wind–Wave Interaction Using Spaceborne SAR Measurements Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Envisat/ASAR cross-spectrum profile inverse wave age |
| title | Global Investigation of Wind–Wave Interaction Using Spaceborne SAR Measurements |
| title_full | Global Investigation of Wind–Wave Interaction Using Spaceborne SAR Measurements |
| title_fullStr | Global Investigation of Wind–Wave Interaction Using Spaceborne SAR Measurements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global Investigation of Wind–Wave Interaction Using Spaceborne SAR Measurements |
| title_short | Global Investigation of Wind–Wave Interaction Using Spaceborne SAR Measurements |
| title_sort | global investigation of wind wave interaction using spaceborne sar measurements |
| topic | Envisat/ASAR cross-spectrum profile inverse wave age |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/3/433 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huiminli globalinvestigationofwindwaveinteractionusingspacebornesarmeasurements AT yijunhe globalinvestigationofwindwaveinteractionusingspacebornesarmeasurements |