Open AccessOcean wave height spectra computed from high‐altitude, optical, infrared images
Author(s) -
Gelpi C. G.,
Schuraytz B. C.,
Husman M. E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2000jc000779
Subject(s) - radiance , buoy , remote sensing , infrared window , radiative transfer , optical transfer function , atmospheric radiative transfer codes , wave height , imaging spectrometer , environmental science , wind wave , optics , transmittance , atmospheric optics , spectrometer , geology , physics , infrared , oceanography
Calibrated ocean wave height spectra are derived from Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer images. A modulation transfer function that relates the ocean surface wave slopes to the at‐sensor radiance is developed by extending the Cox and Munk [1954] model to account for image‐resolvable waves. Parameters in the transfer function include the atmospheric transmittance and the small‐scale wave slope statistics. These parameters are estimated from the change in at‐sensor radiance with respect to view angle. The derived transmittance and atmospheric path‐scattered radiance are consistent with results obtained from a radiative transfer calculation using a reasonable model for the aerosol loading. The optically measured wave heights agree well with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration buoy measurements extrapolated to the image region.