Ocean wave measurements based on satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and numerical wave model (WAM) data - extreme sea state and cross sea analysis

Abstract

In the present paper new algorithms to derive sea state developed at the German Aerospace Center are briefly introduced and used to determine SAR derived spectral sea state and individual parameters. As an example of SAR measurements for a severe North Pacific storm, which produced significant wave height (SWH) above 10 m are compared to ECMWF model results and Radar Altimeter. The results are intercompared and validated. Further an example of a cross sea is analyzed. It occurred in the South East Pacific and was captured clearly by consecutive ERS-2 SAR wave mode images acquired on August 10, 2000. The WAM model spectra, SAR cross spectra and nonlinear SAR retrieved spectra together with derived integral parameters of the spectra are used to analyze the generation and development of the cross sea. The swell dissipation is observed to increase in the cross sea.