Measurement of wind signatures on the sea surface using an L-band polarimetric radiometer

A series of circle flights have been carried out over the wind driven sea, using the EMIRAD L-band polarimetric radiometer, described in J. Rotboll et al. (2001). Data are calibrated and corrected for aircraft attitude, and 360 degrees azimuth profiles are generated. The results show some variation over a full circle, typically about 1 K, and no clear, repeated azimuth signature from circle to circle is identified. Averaging reduces the variations, and frequency analysis of the profiles show an almost flat spectrum, which excludes a simple extrapolation of wind signatures, known at higher frequencies.