Rain effects on SeaWinds data

One year of SeaWinds /spl sigma//sub 0/ data are used with SSM/I and TMI rain rates collocated within 5 minutes and tri-linearly interpolated ECMWF analyses to investigate the effects of rain on SeaWinds data. By parameterizing attenuation and volumetric backscattering in terms of rain rate, the modification of the surface radar cross-section by rain can be found. Uncertainty exists in the rain modification of the surface radar cross-section for different rain rate-wind speed regimes, but its magnitude and azimuthal behavior are sufficiently important to require attention for accurate rain contamination correction.