Physics-Based Forward Modeling of Ocean Surface Swell Effects on SMAP L1-C NRCS Observations †

This paper examines the impact of ocean surface swell waves on near-coastal L-band high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data collected using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) radar at 40° incidence angle. The two-scale model and a more efficient off-nadir approximation of the second-order small-slope-approximation are used for co- and cross-polarized backscatter normalized radar cross-section (NRCS) predictions of the ocean surface, respectively. Backscatter NRCS predictions are modeled using a combined wind and swell model where wind-driven surface roughness is characterized using the Durden–Vesecky directional spectrum, while swell effects are represented through their contribution to the long wave slope variance (mean-square slopes, or MSS). The swell-only MSS is numerically computed based on a model defined using the JONSWAP spectrum with parameters calculated using the National Data Buoy Center and Wave Watch III data. The backscatter NRCS model is further refined to include fetch-limited and low-wind corrections. The results show an improved agreement between modeled and observed HH-polarized backscatter NRCS when swell effects are included and indicate a relatively larger swell impact on L-band compared to higher radar frequencies. Preliminary investigations into the potential swell retrieval capabilities in the form of excess MSS are encouraging, however further refinements are required to make broadly applicable conclusions.