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. / 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. / Summer Semester 2016. / August 2, 2016. / Brightness Temperature, Emissivity, High Wind, Microwave Radiometer, Remote Sensing, Tropical
Cyclones / Includes bibliographical references. / 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.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_405585 |
| Contributors | Holbach, Heather Marie (authoraut), Bourassa, Mark Allan, 1962- (professor directing dissertation), McGee, Daniel (university representative), Hart, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1972- (committee member), Liu, Guosheng (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 departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (85 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | 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. |
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