An estimate of the Geosat altimeter wind speed algorithm at high wind speeds

Abstract

By comparing Geosat altimeter values of the radar cross section with model predictions of the surface winds during satellite overpasses of tropical cyclones, a wind speed algorithm valid for wind speeds between 20 and 40 m/s is developed. There is, however, considerable scatter in these data. An error analysis shows that this observed scatter is consistent with the accuracy to which the tropical cyclone wind fields can be inferred. At the lower limit of its applicability (U10 = 20 m/s), these data are consistent with the previously derived algorithms. At its upper limit (U10 = 40 m/s), mean squared slope values inferred from the radar cross section are consistent with the theoretical upper l..