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[1] Radar observations of the sea surface at C-Band and small incidence angles are used to investigate some properties of the surface slope probability density function (pdf). The method is based on the analysis of the variation of the radar cross-section with incidence angle, assuming a backscattering process following the Geometrical Optics theory. First, we assess the limit of this model in our experimental configuration by using simulations of radar cross-sections with a more accurate backscattering model, namely the Physical Optics model. We show that roughness properties with scales larger than 12 cm can be analyzed in our configuration (C-Band, incidence 7 to 16°). The radar data are then analyzed in terms of filtered mean square slope under the assumption of a Gaussian slope pdf. Dependence of the radar-derived mean square slopes (mss) with wind speed is analyzed, thanks to wind estimates obtained by using coincident observations of the same radar at larger incidence (around 32°). Furthermore an analysis of the anisotropy of the mean square slope is proposed. The results are discussed in comparison with those of Munk (1954a, 1954b), and with the mean square slopes derived from two surface models (Elfouhaily et al., 1997 andKudryavtsev et al., 2003). We find that the radar-derived values are in good agreement with Cox and Munk results, taking into account the filtering effect on radar-derived values. We also show that the surface model of Elfouhaily et al. yields good agreement for the omni directional mss, but a too large anisotropy of the mss. The model of Kudryavtsev provides a reasonable anisotropy of the mss, but overestimates the mss values in all directions. Finally, we propose an analysis of the radar data under a non-Gaussian assumption for the slope pdf, by applying the compound model suggested by Chapron et al. (2000) to our observations. To our knowledge, it is the first time that peakedness values are explicitly derived from radar observations, and documented as a function of azimuth and wind speed. We show that the peakedness (or kurtosis) of the slope pdf is not zero but weak (peakedness factor reaching about 0.20), and slightly increases with wind speed.Citation: Hauser, D., G. Caudal, S. Guimbard, and A. A. Mouche (2008), A study of the slope probability density function of the ocean waves from radar observations,

International audienceSoil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS), launched on 2 November 2009, is the first satellite mission addressing sea surface salinity (SSS) measurement from space. Its unique payload is the Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis (MIRAS), a new two-dimensional interferometer designed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and operating at the L-band frequency. This article presents a summary of SSS retrieval from SMOS observations and shows initial results obtained one year after launch. These results are encouraging, but also indicate that further improvements at various data processing levels are needed and hence are currently under investigation

The Eastern Pacific Fresh Pool (EPFP) is a large region of low sea surface salinity (SSS) defined by values lower than 34 practical salinity scale within (5°S–30°N, 75°W–180°W). The fresh pool dynamically responds to strong regional and seasonally varying ocean‐atmosphere‐land interactions (including monsoon rain, trade and gap winds, and strong currents). Using more than 5 years of Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite sea surface salinity (SSS) and complementary satellite wind, rain, currents, and sea surface temperature data together with a historical ensemble of in situ products, the present study explores the seasonal and interannual dynamics of the fresh pool over the period 2004–2015. An important interannual variability of the maximal surface extension of the EPFP over the past decade is revealed with two extreme events (2012, 2015) occurring during the SMOS satellite period. These extremes are found to be related to the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases and associated anomalies of precipitation, surface currents, and trade wind in the central Pacific. In 2012 (La Niña), stronger trade winds coupled with a deficit of precipitation induced a minimum extension of the pool during the rainy season. Whereas, during the strong El Niño 2014–2015, the EPFP extension reached an unprecedented maximum value. A modification of the atmospheric freshwater fluxes and ocean surface currents during winter 2014 is found to have favored the onset of this abnormal fresh event.

Five years of SMOS L-band brightness temperature data intercepting a large number of tropical cyclones (TCs) are analyzed. The storm-induced half-power radio-brightness contrast (ΔI) is defined as the difference between the brightness observed at a specific wind force and that for a smooth water surface with the same physical parameters. ΔI can be related to surface wind speed and has been estimated for ~ 300 TCs that intercept with SMOS measurements. ΔI, expressed in a common stormcentric coordinate system, shows that mean brightness contrast monotonically increases with increased storm intensity ranging from ~ 5 K for strong storms to ~ 24 K for the most intense Category 5 TCs. A remarkable feature of the 2D mean ΔI fields and their variability is that maxima are systematically found on the right quadrants of the storms in the storm-centered coordinate frame, consistent with the reported asymmetric structure of the wind and wave fields in hurricanes. These results highlight the strong potential of SMOS measurements to improve monitoring of TC intensification and evolution. An improved empirical geophysical model function (GMF) was derived using a large ensemble of colocated SMOS ΔI, aircraft and H*WIND (a multi-measurement analysis) surface wind speed data. The GMF reveals a quadratic relationship between ΔI and the surface wind speed at a height of 10 m (U10). ECMWF and NCEP analysis products and SMOS derived wind speed estimates are compared to a large ensemble of H*WIND 2D fields. This analysis confirms that the surface wind speed in TCs can effectively be retrieved from SMOS data with an RMS error on the order of 10 kt up to 100 kt. SMOS wind speed products above hurricane force (64 kt) are found to be more accurate than those derived from NWP analyses products that systematically underestimate the surface wind speed in these extreme conditions. Using co-located estimates of rain rate, we show that the L-band radio-brightness Highlights ► 5 years of SMOS radiometer L-band data intercepts with tropical cyclones are analyzed. ► The storm-induced brightness contrast ΔI monotonically increases with their intensity. ► In average, the brightest ΔI is found in the right-hand side quadrants of the storms. ► A quadratic relationship relates ΔI and the 10 m height surface wind speed (SWS). ► SWS can be retrieved from SMOS with an RMS error of 5 m/s up to 50 m/s.

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The sea surface salinity (SSS) response to tropical cyclone (TC) passage results from TC-induced rainfall, evaporation, deepening of the upper ocean prestorm mixed layer, upwelling of subsurface water, as well as surrounding water mass advection (Ginis, 2002; Robertson & Ginis, 2002).

One of the saltiest seas, the Mediterranean, experiences significant salinity variations in near surface layers. Satellite sea surface salinity (SSS) data obtained using Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission indicate steady salinification of the eastern Mediterranean Levantine Basin at a rate of ~0.14 psu/year during 2015-2018. Satellite-observed salinity changes are confirmed by Argo float data and suggest possible changes in properties of the Levantine Intermediate Water. Eastern Mediterranean salinification often coincides with a freshening of the western Ionian Sea. Based on satellite altimetry geostrophic currents, these salinity changes are concurrent with a weakening cyclonic circulation in the Levantine Basin and strengthening anticyclonic circulation in the Ionian Sea. The latter is indicative of the Adriatic-Ionian Bimodal Oscillation System. It is known that such circulation changes reduce (increase) the transport of fresh Modified Atlantic Water into the eastern Mediterranean (western Ionian Sea), and this is consistent with observed SSS changes. The quality and availability of satellite L-band (1.41 GHz) SSS estimates near the coast can be limited by land contamination. It is shown that absolute SSS retrievals exhibit up to 1 psu biases in the Mediterranean. This study's use of SMAP SSS anomaly mapping instead of absolute SSS illustrates that observed spatial/temporal SSS patterns allow investigation of time variable change in this basin and augment the existing regional observing system. Highlights► Monitoring complexity of Mediterranean processes is an appealing target for remote sensing. ► Despite strong biases, Mediterranean geophysical signals are contained in satellite SSS fields. ► During 2015-2018, satellite SSS shows steady salinification of the Levantine at ~0.14 psu/year. ► Levantine salinification results from Ionic Sea circulation switch linked with the BIOS pattern. ► Satellite SSS compliments existing in-situ observation systems due to better spatial resolution.