Surface wind speed retrieval using passive microwave polarimetry: the dependence on atmospheric stability

The results of the joint US/Russia Internal Wave Remote Sensing Experiment are presented. The airborne Ka-band radiometer-polarimeter was used for surface wind vector retrieval using the polarizational anisotropy effect. The anisotropy versus wind speed curve was noted to be two times steeper under unstable atmospheric stratification than under stable or neutral stratification. The dependence of anisotropy on both friction velocity and stability parameter z/L was examined. The correlation between anisotropy and stability parameter is significant, especially for slightly stable stratification. The paper concludes that atmospheric stratification should be taken into consideration to improve the wind speed retrieval algorithm.