Ocean Wind Field Estimation Using Multi-Frequency SAR Imagery

In this paper, preliminary results obtained within the framework of the Italian Space Agency-funded APPLICAVEMARS project are presented. The project aims at estimating sea surface wind field from L-, C-and X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. In particular, the key element is the adaptation/improvement of geophysical model functions to transform the microwave reflectivity map into an added-value product, i.e., a wind map characterized by a spatial resolution much finer than the one obtainable from scatterometer measurements. First experimental results related to C-band Sentinel-1 SAR imagery are presented.