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Wave and Wind Direction Effects on Ocean Surface Emissivity Measurements in High Wind Conditions
| Title: | Wave and Wind Direction Effects on Ocean Surface Emissivity Measurements in High Wind Conditions. |
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| Name(s): |
Holbach, Heather Marie, author Bourassa, Mark Allan, 1962-, professor directing dissertation McGee, Daniel, university representative Hart, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1972-, committee member Liu, Guosheng, (Professor of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science), committee member Clarke, Allan J., committee member Uhlhorn, Eric, committee member Powell, Mark Dillon, committee member Florida State University, degree granting institution College of Arts and Sciences, degree granting college Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, degree granting department |
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| Type of Resource: | text | |
| Genre: | Text | |
| Issuance: | monographic | |
| Date Issued: | 2016 | |
| Publisher: |
Florida State University Florida State University |
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| Place of Publication: | Tallahassee, Florida | |
| Physical Form: |
computer online resource |
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| Extent: | 1 online resource (85 pages) | |
| Language(s): | English | |
| Abstract/Description: | Wave and wind direction effects on remote sensing measurements of ocean surface emissivity are investigated using a microwave radiometer in high wind conditions with a focus on tropical cyclones. Surface wind speed, which drives many atmospheric and oceanic phenomena, can be inferred from the ocean surface emissivity measurements through the use of a radiative transfer model and inversion algorithm. The accuracy of the ocean surface emissivity to wind speed calibration relies on accurate knowledge of the surface variables that are influencing the ocean surface emissivity. This study will identify an asymmetry in ocean surface emissivity measurements at off-nadir incidence angles that is related to the surface wind direction modifying the distribution of whitewater coverage, which is composed of active whitecaps and residual foam that persists after wave breaking, on the ocean surface in high wind conditions viewed by the radiometer. It will also be shown that asymmetries are present in ocean surface emissivity measurements from a nadir pointing instrument in hurricanes. This asymmetry can be related to swell and wind wave propagation directions with respect to the wind direction modifying the stress on the ocean surface, which presumably impacts the wave breaking and thus the whitewater coverage characteristics on the ocean surface. These results help achieve the study goals: 1) improving the understanding of how wave and wind direction modify ocean surface emissivity in high wind conditions and 2) identifying conditions, particularly in tropical cyclones, where wind direction and sea state modify the ocean surface emissivity and should be considered in order to further improve algorithms for the remote sensing of the surface wind. | |
| Identifier: | FSU_FA2016_Holbach_fsu_0071E_13475 (IID) | |
| Submitted Note: | A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. | |
| Degree Awarded: | Summer Semester 2016. | |
| Date of Defense: | August 2, 2016. | |
| Keywords: | Brightness Temperature, Emissivity, High Wind, Microwave Radiometer, Remote Sensing, Tropical Cyclones | |
| Bibliography Note: | Includes bibliographical references. | |
| Advisory Committee: | Mark A. Bourassa, Professor Directing Dissertation; Dan McGee, University Representative; Robert Hart, Committee Member; Guosheng Liu, Committee Member; Allan Clarke, Committee Member; Eric Uhlhorn, Committee Member; Mark Powell, Committee Member. | |
| Subject(s): | Meteorology | |
| Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_FA2016_Holbach_fsu_0071E_13475 | |
| Use and Reproduction: | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. | |
| Host Institution: | FSU |
Holbach, H. M. (2016). Wave and Wind Direction Effects on Ocean Surface Emissivity Measurements in High Wind Conditions. Retrieved from http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_FA2016_Holbach_fsu_0071E_13475
