Sea state in the Baltic Sea from space-borne high-resolution synthetic aperture radar imagery

In this work, remote sensing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from X-band TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X (TS-X and TD-X) satellites have been used to adopt the algorithms for estimating sea state parameters in the specific condition of the Baltic Sea with archipelago islands and where short steep sea state dominates. Since the moving targets can be defocused and shifted in SAR images, sea state consisting of short windsea waves with strong local orbital velocities and wave breaking needs additional effort for accurate estimation of the total significant wave height that consists of swell and windsea parts. The XWAVE_C algorithm, developed for the North Sea, where the long swell waves coming from the Atlantic Ocean are present during storms, was further enhanced for the short steep windsea which dominates under ordinary storm conditions in the Baltics. For the empirical XWAVE_C model function, based on the spectral analysis of subscenes as well as on local wind information, an additional term was incorporated for assessment the minimal windsea significant wave height by applying JONSWAP wave spectra. A term to compensate spectral distortions triggered by windsea waves moving in SAR flight direction has also been introduced. In total, 95 TS-X/TD-X StripMap scenes between 2012 and 2017 were acquired in Eastern Baltic Sea, processed and analysed. The wave height results from SAR images were compared with collocated in situ data from 11 available buoys. The analysed data include both high and low windsea conditions. The comparison of SAR-derived wave heights with measured wave heights shows high agreement with a correlation coefficient r of 0.88. The wind speed, estimated from SAR images, was compared to measurements from 14 collocated in situ stations, yielding a high agreement with an r value of 0.90. This article is focused on the algorithm developments; however, it is also the first study of sea state retrieval in the Baltic Sea using high-resolution satellite-based techniques. The results show the local variability in the wave fields connected to atmospheric features. The observed local wave height can increase by 1–2 m in kilometre-size cells that are accompanied by wind gusts. The developed algorithms are installed in the German Aerospace Center’s (DLR) ground station Neustrelitz and can also be used in near-real-time.     

An algorithm for the retrieval of sea surface wind fields using X-band TerraSAR-X data

TerraSAR-X (TS-X) is a new, fully polarized X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, which is a successor of the Spaceborne Imaging Radar X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-X-SAR) and the SRTM. TS-X has provided high-quality image products over land and oceans for scientific and commercial users since its launch in June 2007. In this article, a new geophysical model function (GMF) is presented to retrieve sea surface wind speeds at a height of 10 m (U ₁₀) based on TS-X data obtained with VV polarization in the ScanSAR, StripMap and Spotlight modes. The X-band GMF was validated by comparing the retrieved wind speeds from the TS-X data with in situ observations, the high-resolution limited area model (HIRLAM) and QuikSCAT scatterometer measurements. The bias and root mean square (RMS) values were 0.03 and 2.33 m s^?1, respectively, when compared with the co-located wind measurements derived from QuikSCAT. To apply the newly developed GMF to the TS-X data obtained in HH polarization, we analysed the C-band SAR polarization models and extended them to the X-band SAR data. The sea surface wind speeds were retrieved using the X-band GMF from pairs of TS-X images obtained in dual-polarization mode (i.e. VV and HH). The retrieved results were also validated by comparing with QuikSCAT measurements and the results of the German Weather Service (DWD) atmospheric model. The obtained RMS was 2.50 m s^?1 when compared with the co-located wind measurements derived from the QuikSCAT, and the absolute error was 2.24 m s^?1 when compared with DWD results.     

Applicability of SAR-based wave retrieval for wind–wave interaction analysis in the fetch-limited Baltic

In this article, a method for the detection of wave field parameters from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery in the fetch-limited Baltic Sea is presented. Over the Baltic Sea region, common southwest (SW) and west (W) winds induce steep waves with shorter wavelengths compared with ocean waves. Thus, with the use of previous SAR sensors (e.g. ENVISAT/ASAR), it was not possible to detect individual waves and retrieve image wave number spectra. Since the year 2007, when TerraSAR-X (TS-X) reached its orbit, high spatial resolution data is available for measuring the sea-state parameters: the individual waves up to 30 m wavelength and their refraction can be distinguished. The main objective of this work was to demonstrate the capability of detecting wave field parameter from (TS-X) imagery in the Baltic Sea. The wave field parameters obtained from the SAR imagery were compared with in situ measurements and the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) wave model. The comparison of SAR-based wave field information with buoy measurements showed high agreement in case of wave propagation direction (r = 0.95) and wavelength (r = 0.83). A significant correlation is also seen between SWAN- and SAR-derived wave propagation direction (r = 0.87) and wavelengths (r = 0.91). With the case studies, it is shown that SAR data enables one to detect land shadow effects and small-scale wave field variations in the coastal zone. It was shown that SAR data is also valuable for improving and interpreting the wave model results. In consequence of common slanting fetch cases over the Baltic Sea region, it was demonstrated that the peak wave directions differ from the mean wind directions up to 43°.     

Principles of swell measurement by SAR with application to ERS-1 observations off the Mauritanian coast

This paper addresses the imaging of swell waves by Synthetic Aperture Radar ( SAR). We give the principles for the determination of swell parameters from image data. Wave height determination is based on a simple method derived from the quasi-linear version of the wave imaging model of Hasselmann and Hasselmann. The influence of wind waves on wave height determination is discussed. Results on coastal swell events observed by ERS-1 off the Banc d' Arguin ( Mauritania) are presented. These results are compared, generally favourably, with estimates from the wave prediction model of Meteo-france and from a model of swell propagation in finite depth water. However, in intermediate to shallow water, SAR wave length estimates were found to be greater than the theoretical values obtained without currents. The results are discussed in terms of swell-current interaction phenomena. A general conclusion of the study is that satellite SAR can be considered as a quasi-operational instrument for swell monitoring at low to moderate wind speeds. Also, we point out that SAR imagery can henceforth be envisaged for physical studies on swell propagation in the coastal zone.     

Development of polarization ratio model for sea surface wind field retrieval from TerraSAR-X HH polarization data

In this article, the polarization ratio (PR) of TerraSAR-X (TS-X) vertical–vertical (VV) and horizontal–horizontal (HH) polarization data acquired over the ocean is investigated. Similar to the PR of C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), the PR of X-band SAR data also shows significant dependence on incidence angle. The normalized radar cross-section (NRCS) in VV polarization data is generally larger than that in HH polarization for incidence angles above 23°. Based on the analysis, two PR models proposed for C-band SAR were retuned using TS-X dual-polarization data. A new PR model, called X-PR hereafter, is proposed as well to convert the NRCS of TS-X in HH polarization to that in VV polarization. By using the developed geophysical model functions of XMOD1 and XMOD2 and the tuned PR models, the sea surface field is retrieved from the TS-X data in HH polarization. The comparisons with in situ buoy measurements show that the combination of XMOD2 and X-PR models yields a good retrieval with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.03 m s^–1 and scatter index (SI) of 22.4%. A further comparison with a high-resolution analysis wind model in the North Sea is also presented, which shows better agreement with RMSE of 1.76 m s^–1 and SI of 20.3%. We also find that the difference between the fitting of the X-PR model and the PR derived from TS-X dual-polarization data is close to a constant. By adding the constant to the X-PR model, the accuracy of HH polarization sea surface wind speed is further improved with the bias reduced by 0.3 m s^–1. A case acquired at the offshore wind farm in the East China Sea further demonstrates that the improvement tends to be more effective for incidence angles above 40°.     

Underwater bottom topography in coastal areas from TerraSAR-X data

In this article, wave refraction and shoaling in coastal areas were investigated and used to derive the bathymetry. With its high spatial resolution, which can achieve up to 1 m in SpotLight mode, and its low cut-off wavelength, the TerraSAR-X satellite provides images that are particularly suitable for the observation of wave behaviour in transient and shallow waters. By computing the two-dimensional (2D) spectra, shoaling waves were tracked from the open sea to the shoreline. The observed wave refraction and shoaling were compared with wave refraction laws and first-order wave theory (Airy theory). The retrieved bathymetry was compared against depth data from other sources such as ETOPO1, the US Coastal Relief Model and sea charts from the British Admiralty. A further aim of this article was the investigation of breaking waves showing up as near-shore image patterns. A theory is presented of how to derive the height of breaking waves by use of this pattern. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images with azimuth as well as range travelling waves were investigated. As test sites, we chose the entrance of Port Phillip near Melbourne (Australia) and the Duck Research Pier in North Carolina (USA).     

Seasat detection of waves,currents and inlet discharge

Abstract

A new era of remote sensing for coastal and oceanographic monitoring was born on 26 June 1978 with the launch of Seasat. Duck-X was a 2 month experiment conducted during August to October 1978 off the east coast of the U.S.A. for the validation of the Seasat synthetic aperture radar (SAR), During this field experiment, various oceanographic phenomena were monitored. Ground truth observations of these phenomena have been correlated with Seasat SAR imagery. The ground truth sensors included airborne photographic and radar imagery, meteorological satellite imagery, land based radars, and conventional wave gauges. This paper focuses on ocean surface waves, ocean currents and coastal inlet discharge

Specifically, the direction and length of the principal ocean wave trains are compared for the periods of Seasat overflight of the Duck-X area. During these overflights significant wave heights were 1.5 m and less and the maximum wave period was 14 s. The current correlations concentrate on the western boundary of the Gulf Stream and its associated eddy structure. Inlet outflow is shown for inlets on the east coast of the U.S.A

This ground truth study has indicated that the SAR imagery contains an unanticipated abundance of information on a variety of oceanographic and coastal phenomena.     

Alignment of mountain lee waves viewed using NOAA AVHRR imagery,MST radar,and SAR

Recent radar observations of mountain waves in the troposphere and lower stratosphere above Aberystwyth (52.4°N, 4.0°W) indicate that, on average, the wave alignment is related more closely to the wind direction within the boundary layer than to the alignment of mountain ridges. This is investigated using independent data NOAA AVHRR imagery of both mountain-wave clouds and convective cloud streets, combined with surface synoptic wind measurements. The mountain-wave cloud bands are found to be aligned not at exactly 90° to the surface wind but rotated a further 18° clockwise. Similarly, in an important backup test, the cloud streets are found not to be parallel to the surface wind but rotated 12° clockwise, which agrees with over 30 years of observations, most recently of wind rows on the ocean by synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Because the wind rotates, on average, clockwise with increasing height in the northernhemisphere boundary layer, the mountain-wave clouds will be at 90° to the wind direction in the middle of the boundary layer. Therefore, the satellite images independently confirm earlier mesosphere-stratosphere-troposphere (MST) radar observations. Mountain lee waves may corrupt SAR measurements of surface wind above the ocean, so knowledge of their alignment is useful; two examples of lee waves modulating the sea roughness west of Aberystwyth are discussed.     

Assessment of an analytical model for sea surface wind speed retrieval from spaceborne SAR

An analytical model based on radar backscatter theory was utilized to retrieve sea surface wind speeds from C-band satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data at either vertical (VV) or horizontal (HH) polarization in transmission and reception. The wind speeds were estimated from several ENVISAT Advanced SAR (ASAR) images in Hong Kong coastal waters and from Radarsat-1 SAR images along the west coast of North America. To evaluate the accuracy of the analytical model, the estimated wind speeds were compared to coincident buoy measurements, as well as winds retrieved by C-band empirical algorithms (CMOD4, CMOD_IRF2 and CMOD5). The comparison shows that the accuracy of the analytical model is comparable to that of the C-band empirical algorithms. The results indicate the capability of the analytical model for sea surface wind speed retrieval from SAR images at both VV and HH polarization.     

Sea surface wind speed and sea state retrievals from dual-frequency altimeter and its preliminary application in global view of wind-sea and swell distributions

Altimeter radar backscatter intensity, in terms of the normalized radar cross section (NRCS), is known to be modulated by surface wind forcing and the state of wind-sea development. Based on a data set of collocated altimeters (including Topex/Poseidon, Jason-1 and Jason-2) and in situ measurements, different responses to various wind speeds and wave ages (i.e. the state of wind-sea development) were illustrated for altimeter dual-frequency NRCSs (K_u-band at 13.6 Hz and C band at 5.4 Hz), which can facilitate the retrieval of wind speed and wave age parameters. A statistical parametric algorithm was developed to retrieve the two dynamic parameters from the altimeter dual-frequency NRCSs using the neutral network method. The wind-sea significant wave height (SWH) was estimated from wind speed and wave age parameters, which partitions the swell SWH from the altimeter SWH measurement. All newly derived parameters were well validated by comparison against in situ buoy measurements. A preliminary application of the method in examining the swell or wind-sea contributions to global waves was performed; it was found the swell dominance in an open ocean, and the wind-sea dominance in marginal and semi-enclosed seas. The methods would benefit other applications such as studies of air–sea interactions, validation of wave model, determination of swell decay rate and studies of wave climate.     

基于现场观测数据的卫星雷达高度计海面风速和有效波高真实性检验方法研究

卫星遥感产品定量化应用前需通过真实性检验。卫星雷达高度计可观测海面风速大小和有效波高等海洋动力环境参数,而对其进行真实性检验存在不同的时空匹配方法。使用3种不同的时空匹配方法,利用美国国家浮标数据中心(NDBC)现场观测数据对2011年的Jason2海面风速和有效波高产品进行了检验。Jason2海面风速大小和有效波高的均方根误差分别为1.28 m/s和0.28 m,同时结果表明:采用卫星高度计海面风速大小(有效波高)和同步的现场观测数据在一定时间(1 h)和空间(50 km)限制条件下进行对比检验,可以得到合理的高度计海面风速大小和有效波高精度评价结果。 Jason2卫星高度计海面风速大小和有效波高的精度与探测海域有关,其精度在墨西哥湾与西大西洋海域相对较高。     

星载SAR在海气边界层气象学中的应用研究

SAR(Synthetic Aperture Radar,合成孔径雷达)作为一种现代高空间分辨率成像侧视雷达,对地球表面海洋所成的图像中蕴含了极为丰富的中尺度及亚中尺度海洋大气边界层的信息,因此对边界层气象学研究有着非常重要的意义。但是,使用SAR研究海气边界层这一涵盖微波遥感、气象学及海洋学等学科的科学前沿课题在国内却少有文献报道。在此背景下,首先介绍了SAR反演海洋大气边界层的研究概况,回顾了SAR反演海气边界层参数的原理和方法。然后以2002年5月7日当地时间10时53分ERS-2卫星获取的香港地区(22.097°N,E 114.300°E)SAR海洋图像为例,进行了反演风向风速的初步试验,最终获得了较高精度的风矢量。具体过程如下:先对SAR图像进行预处理,包括ADC(Analog Digital Converter,模数转换器)补偿、精确校准及斑点滤波等过程;然后利用经典的谱分析方法求得具有180°模糊度的风向,再用香港天文台气象浮标实测资料消除这一不确定性得到了真实的相对风向;紧接着利用CMOD4地球物理模式函数计算得到了海面上10 m高的风速。与气象浮标站所记录的平均风速和风向比较,两个20 km×20 km大小的试验区域求得的风向误差分别为23.71°和7.00°,平均风速误差分别为0.18 m/s和-0.12 m/s。结果表明,如果对SAR预先进行严格的预处理,结合经典的谱分析方法和CMOD4模型,即可获取高精度的风矢量。这一结果为今后海洋大气边界层的研究奠定了良好的基础。     

利用星载SAR图像检测海洋锋的方法

海洋锋区剪切流、辐聚流与海洋表面波之间存在相互作用,将这种相互作用处理为对海浪谱的扰动,来分析其对海浪谱密度和谱梯度的影响;根据两尺度模型,分析了海面小尺度波(厘米级)和大尺度波(海浪)与雷达后向散射系数的关系,从而说明了海洋锋的SAR成像原理。在海面SAR图像中,海洋锋的尺度比海浪的尺度大2~3个数量级,可以通过二维空间谱分析,将海浪信息的主要部分滤除,再利用数字图像处理技术提取海洋锋的特征信息,由此形成了一套用海面SAR图像提取海洋锋特征参数的信息处理方法。     

合成孔径雷达海面风场反演研究进展

合成孔径雷达高分辨率、全天候的观测能力使其成为大面积获取高分辨海面风场的重要手段,这有助于我们理解各种海洋现象的物理过程,尤其是在海岸带,合成孔径雷达反演风场更具优势。以合成孔径雷达风向确定方式为主线,详细阐述了国内外学者在合成孔径雷达风场反演方面的研究进展,主要包括：利用影像线性纹理特征进行风场反演、基于外部初始风向的风场反演方法以及利用影像本身所包含的其它信息进行的风场反演工作,诸如距离向入射角差异、多极化后向散射等,并对合成孔径雷达风场反演的发展给出自己的观点。     

Estimated surface-wave contributions to radar Doppler velocity measurements of the ocean surface

For simulated ocean conditions, we estimate the magnitude of the Doppler velocity contributions produced by unresolved surface waves that typical spaceborne synthetic aperture radars (SAR) would measure. The mechanism for generating Doppler velocities is the correlation between wave phase and radar cross section. The contributions analyzed include those of linear gravity waves, second-order wave-wave interactions, Bragg-wave scatterers and breaking waves. For gravity waves, we consider both wave tilt and hydrodynamic modulation transfer functions (MTFs). We find that for nominal sea conditions, the Doppler velocity is significant, on the order of 1 m/s, and exhibits large variation as a function of incidence angle and look with respect to the sea direction. The most important contributors are gravity waves and the Bragg scatterers, followed by sea spikes. Effects produced by second-order wave solutions are argued to be inconsequential.     

Dependence of mean square slope on wave state and its application in altimeter wind speed retrieval

Mean square slope (MSS) of sea surface is a parameter describing the sea surface roughness and plays a key role in understanding the sea surface dynamics. Although MSS is influenced by many factors such as wind speed and sea surface waves, it has been traditionally parameterized by wind speed only. In this study, the surface wave impact on MSS is investigated using a collocated data set of altimeter and buoy measurements. It is found that the MSS detected by Ku-band altimeter is closely related to the wind wave components and increases with the degree of wind wave development; however, it is almost independent of the swell. The wave effect on MSS is mainly ascribed to the contribution of longer waves rather than shorter waves. An analytical spectral MSS model is proposed, and it is shown that the MSS calculated from the model agrees well with the altimeter-measured MSS when the pseudo-wave age is adjusted to the wave age corresponding to wind waves. This model is applied to derive wind speeds from altimeter data including the normalized radar cross section and the significant wave height of sea surface waves. With the collocated data set, it is shown that this new algorithm performs better than previous empirical algorithms.     

Evaluation of hurricane wind speed retrieval from cross-dual-pol SAR

Understanding and forecasting hurricanes are important components of weather prediction and climate studies. A critical concern is accuracy in hurricane wind speed estimates, especially in areas over the ocean where in situ measurements are sparse. Moreover, for very intense hurricanes, remotely sensed ocean surface winds generally lack accuracy. Recent studies on cross-polarization RADARSAT-2 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data show very promising capability for high wind speed retrieval. The monotonic increase of cross-pol radar backscattered intensity with wind speed, and less sensitive dependence on wind direction, makes it superior to co-pol SAR measurements for operational application. Before further application of the methodology, it is important to evaluate the capability of hurricane forced wind speed retrieval from the promising, simple cross-pol SAR data. In this study, we apply a newly developed wind retrieval model to hurricanes using VH polarization dual-pol mode (VH dual-pol) RADARSAT-2 ScanSAR images. Validation of SAR wind retrievals is via surface wind analysis data from the Hurricane Research Division (HRD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and airborne stepped frequency microwave radiometer (SFMR) measurements. We found that compared to the co-polarization RADARSAT-2 SAR measurements, retrieved wind speeds from cross-polarization mode SAR have better overall accuracy and are more consistent with expected hurricane structures. Moreover, the cross-polarization model for VH dual-pol-retrieved winds does not appear to exhibit the speed ambiguity problem, which is one of the main obstacles for co-polarization retrieval of hurricane winds. SAR-retrieved winds contain detailed wind structures of the hurricane eyewall which are potentially of value for ongoing improvements in numerical models of hurricanes, air–sea interactions, and climate change. Special attention must be paid to biases caused by precipitation in order to reduce remaining errors in SAR retrieval of hurricane winds; precipitation has not been explicitly considered by current geophysical model functions.     

SAR-derived wind fields at the coastal region in the East/Japan Sea and relation to coastal upwelling

The relationship between the modification of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) wind field and coastal upwelling was investigated using high-resolution wind fields from Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array type L-band synthetic aperture radar (PALSAR) imagery and sea-surface temperature (SST) from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (NOAA/AVHRR) data. The retrieved SAR wind speeds seem to agree well with in situ buoy measurements with only a relatively small error of 0.7 m s^?1. The SAR wind fields retrieved from the east coast of Korea in August 2007 revealed a spatial distinction between near and offshore regions. Low wind speeds of less than 3 m s^?1 were associated with cold water regions with dominant coastal upwelling. Time series of in situ measurements of both wind speed and water temperature indicated that the upwelling was induced by the wind field. The low wind field from SAR was mainly induced by changes in atmospheric stability due to air–sea temperature differences. In addition, wind speed magnitude showed a positive correlation with the difference between SST and air temperature (R² = 0.63). The dependence of viscosity of water on radar backscattering at the present upwelling region was negligible since SAR data showed a relatively large backscattering attenuation to an SST ratio of 1.2 dB °C^?1. This study also addressed the important role of coastal upwelling on biological bloom under oligotrophic environments during summer.     

极化合成孔径雷达测量海浪的研究

描述了极化合成孔径雷达海浪成像过程。提出了一种极化雷达反演海浪方向谱的方法,该方法利用合成孔径雷达图像谱与海浪方向谱之间简单的线性关系和最优方法反演得到海浪方向谱,并将结果与现场资料进行了比较。经过对同一海区机载雷达P、L、C 3个波段的图像进行反演,其方向谱相当一致,而且有效波高和波向与实测数据吻合相当好。     

北斗反射信号海风海浪探测系统软件设计

介绍了北斗反射信号海风海浪探测系统的总体设计结构,重点阐述了软件系统的设计,其中对数据通信模块、定位信息显示模块以及有效波高、海面风速等海洋参数反演模块的设计与实现进行了详尽说明,并基于VS2008软件平台,使用C++语言对软件系统进行了实现.实际试验结果表明,北斗反射信号海风海浪探测软件系统可以长期稳定工作,并有效反演出有效波高、海面风速等海洋信息,而且具有良好的扩展性.