Radar Oceanography - Continuation with exercises on Radar Oceanography

Abstract

The new radar satellites image the sea surface with resolutions of up to 1m. A large spectrum of ocean processes can be estimated using such EO (Earth Observation) data. So not only the wind field and integrated sea state parameters but also individual ocean waves with wavelengths down to 30m are detectable. The developed new algorithms are capable to take into account fine-scale effects in coastal areas. The data have been applied as well for investigation of geophysical processes, as well as for forecast model validations and Near Real Time (NRT) services. Processes, parameters and features observed in high resolution SAR images and related to sea state are very expansive: wind, waves (integrated parameters and individual waves), oil spreading, changing of waterline in Wadden areas, morphodynamic developments, ships with wakes and bow waves, underwater topography visible by long wave refraction (underwater bank detection), wave energy flux along the wave tracks from deep water to the coastal line, wave breaking by smearing structures, ice classification and iceberg detection and wave groups.