Accuracy estimate for determination of the near-surface wind velocity using the SAR ocean image spectrum

Numerical modeling of the SAR image of wind waves propagating azimuthally is performed for various wind velocities. It is shown that if the wind is relatively weak (up to 10 m/s), then the position of the image-spectrum maximum is a fairly sensitive parameter, such that the accuracy of the respective wind-velocity measurement technique for these wind velocities should be 1 m/s or less for a high spatial resolution. Under conditions of stronger wind, the sensitivity decreases; however, more definite results for the stronger-wind domain can be obtained only experimentally. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2005.