Initial development of pencil-beam scatterometer coastal processing

Accurate high-resolution QuikSCAT-derived winds with dense coastal sam- pling are strategic for both scientific and civil applications. The implementa- tion of the QuikSCAT Spatial Response Function (SRF) analytical model and its parameterized version by means of a pre-computed look-up-table (LUT) provided by the Brigham Young University are described. The procedure for the computation of the Land Contribution Ratio (LCR) index has been also implemented. An optimized use of a high-spatial-resolution Land-Sea Mask (LSM) is described. Finally, an LCR-based procedure for the correction of the backscattered normalized radar cross section (σ0 ) has been implemented. Both analytical and LUT-derived SRF versions have been visually validated, together with the derived LCR indexes. The distribution of the coastal σ0 s corresponding to a coastal test area of the Gulf of Taranto, in the south of Italy has been discussed. The main outcomes of this study show that the thorough characterization and exploitation of the full resolution σ0 noise properties is fundamental for the success of the wind field retrieval close to the coast. Finally, future developments of the coastal processor are proposed. Most of these developments will be carried-out in the context of a recently approved EUMETSAT Visiting Science Activity (VSA).