PACIFIC EXTREME WIND AND WAVE CONDITIONS OBSERVED BY SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR

It is well known that synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provides information on ocean winds and surface waves. SAR data are of particularly high value in extreme weather conditions, as radar is able to penetrate the clouds providing information on different ocean surface processes. In this presentation some recent results on SAR observation of extreme wind and ocean wave conditions is summarised. Particular emphasize is put on the investigation of typhoons and extratropical cyclones in the North Pacific. The study is based on the use of ENVISAT ASAR wide swath images. Wide swath and scansar data are well suited for a detailed investigation of cyclones. Several examples like, e.g., typhoon Talim will be presented, demonstrating that these data provide valuable information on the two dimensional structure of the both the wind and the ocean wave field. Comparisons of the SAR observation with parametric and numerical model data will be discussed. Some limitations of standard imaging models like, e.g., CMOD5 for the use in extreme wind conditions are explained and modifications are proposed. Finally the study summarizes the capabilities of new high resolution TerraSAR-X mission to be launched in October 2006 with respect to the monitoring of extreme weather conditions. The mission will provide a spatialresolution up to 1m and has full polarimetric capabilities.