Wind-Generated Gravity Waves Retrieval From High-Resolution 2-D Maps of Sea Surface Elevation by Airborne Interferometric Altimeter

This letter describes the new ability to measure wind-generated gravity waves using the airborne
$Ka$
-band interferometric altimeter (AirKaIA). Although the original definition of wave parameters is derived from wave-induced sea surface elevation (WSSE), it is difficult to directly measure the WSSE, so most remote sensing of waves use other types of signals to obtain wave parameters. Here, we present the measurement of 2-D WSSE from AirKaIA. A new wave retrieval method based on the 2-D WSSE has been developed, tested with simulation data, and applied to AirKaIA data. The results indicate that the retrieved dominant wave directions, dominant wavelengths, and significant wave heights from AirKaIA are in agreement with
in situ
measurements while highlighting the need for further method tests using more observations. The study of ocean signals from interferometric altimeter is an emerging research topic. AirKaIA’s measurements of wind-generated gravity waves with 2-D WSSE have implications for the assessment of future interferometric altimeter missions.