On the Benefits of Using Two-Looks for Estimation of Ocean Surface Wind Vector from the Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer (COWVR)

The Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer (COWVR) was deployed on the International Space Station (ISS) in January 2022 for a three-year demonstration mission. COWVR is a part of the Space Force Space Test Program (STP-H8) mission. The COWVR sensor provides fully polarimetric passive microwave observations at 18.7, 23.8, and 33.9 GHz, from which, ocean wind vector, precipitable water vapor, and cloud liquid water path can be estimated. The focus of the presentation will be on the utilization of the two-looks at a scene that the COWVR instrument provides for estimation of ocean surface wind vector. Utilizing two-look capabilities will lessen the need for numerical weather prediction-based ambiguity removal—typically relied upon in a single-look observation geometry. The application of COWVR observations for studies of air-sea interaction will also be explored. All COWVR data products will be delivered to the Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center for research community use.