Study Of The Impact Of The Surface Wave Field On The C-band Model Function And The Derived Wind Vector

General theory of short wave-long wave interactions is applied in a formulation of the C-band model function of the microwave backscatter from the sea surface. The model function is expanded to second order of the sea surface elevation. When the mean backscatter for an area of the sea surface is derived, the long wave impact on the backscatter is given in terms of the long wave variance spectrum. The model function is tuned so as to coincide with CMODl [ref 11 for fully developed windsea. Numerical simulations with swell and developing windseas demonstrate a significant impact of the long waves on the scatterometer wind retrievals.