Sea surface emissivity observations at L-band: first results of the Wind and Salinity Experiment WISE 2000

Abstract

Sea surface salinity can be measured by passive microwave remote sensing at L-band. In May 1999, the European Space Agency (ESA) selected the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) Earth Explorer Opportunity Mission to provide global coverage of soil moisture and ocean salinity. To determine the effect of wind on the sea surface emissivity, ESA sponsored the Wind and Salinity Experiment (WISE 2000). This paper describes the field campaign, the measurements acquired with emphasis in the radiometric measurements at L-band, their comparison with numerical models, and the implications for the remote sensing of sea salinity.The WISE 2000 campaign was supported by the European Space Agency under ESTEC Contract 14188/00/NL/DC. The numerical simulations have been performed under ESTEC Salinity Study 3618. The implementation of the L-band radiometer of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia has been supported by the Spanish government under Grant CICYT TIC99-1050-C03-01. The French moorings were supported by the Centre National d’Études Spatiales