Method for Improvement of Ocean Wind Speed Estimation Accuracy by Taking into Account the Relation between Wind Speed and Wind Direction

Abstract

A method for improvement of ocean wind speed estimation accuracy by taking into account the relation between wind speed and wind direction is proposed. Brightness temperature observed with microwave radiometer onboard satellite is modified with microwave radiometer derived wind direction proposed by Frank Wentz. Using the modified brightness temperature, more precise wind speed is estimated. Experiments with AMSR-E and NCEP GDAS data show improvements of wind speed estimation in comparison to the existing method based on the geophysical model of Frank Wentz together with the retrieval algorithm of Akira Shibata.