Abstract
In this note, we present the first Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) typhoon image acquired in the northwest Pacific on October 4, 2014. The eye shape and sea surface wind patterns associated with Typhoon Phanfone are clearly shown in the high-quality SAR image. SAR winds retrieval procedure was given but the actual wind estimates will only be available after the European Space Agency (ESA) releases the official calibration coefficients in order to accurately derive the SAR-measured normalized radar cross section. This study demonstrates the advantage of Sentinel-1 SAR with regards to imaging fine scale typhoon patterns on the sea surface beneath storm clouds. This paper also advocates the use of Sentinel-1 SAR data that is made freely and openly available worldwide for the first time in civilian SAR history.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.References
Alpers W, Brümmer B. 1994. Atmospheric boundary layer rolls observed by the synthetic aperture radar aboard the ERS-1 satellite. J Geophys Res, 99(C6): 12613–12621
Alpers W, Pahl U, Gross G. 1998. Katabatic wind fields in coastal areas studied by ERS-1 synthetic aperture radar imagery and numerical modeling. J Geophys Res, 103(C4): 7875–7886
Chunchuzov I, Vachon P W, Li Xiaofeng 2000. Analysis and modeling of atmospheric gravity waves observed in RADARSAT SAR images. Remote Sens Environ, 74(3): 343–361
Friedman K S, Li Xiaofeng. 2000. Monitoring hurricanes over the ocean with wide swath SAR. Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest, 21(1): 80–85
Hersbach H, Stoffelen A, de Haan S. 2007. An improved C-band scatterometer ocean geophysical model function: CMOD5. J Geophys Res, 112(C3): C03006
Li Xiaofeng, Clemente-Colón P, Pichel W G, et al. 2000. Atmospheric vortex streets on a RADARSAT SAR image. Geophys Res Lett, 27(11): 1655–1658
Li Xiaofeng, Pichel W G, He Mingxia, et al. 2002. Observation of hurricane-generated ocean swell refraction at the Gulf Stream north wall with the RADARSAT-1 synthetic aperture radar. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens, 40(10): 2131–2142
Li Xiaofeng, Dong Changming, Clemente-Colön P, et al. 2004. Synthetic aperture radar observation of the sea surface imprints of upstream atmospheric solitons generated by flow impeded by an island. J Geophys Res, 109(C2): C02016
Li Xiaofeng, Zheng Weizhong, Pichel W G, et al. 2007. Coastal katabatic winds imaged by SAR. Geophys Res Lett, 34(3): L03804
Li Xiaofeng, Zheng Weizhong, Zou Chengzhi, et al. 2008. A SAR observation and numerical study on ocean surface imprints of atmospheric vortex streets. Sensors, 8(5): 3321–3334
Li Xiaofeng, Zheng Weizhong, Yang Xiaofeng, et al. 2011. Sea surface imprints of coastal mountain lee waves imaged by synthetic aperture radar. J Geophys Res, 116(C2): C02014
Li Xiaofeng, Zheng Weizhong, Yang Xiaofeng, et al. 2013. Coexistence of atmospheric gravity waves and boundary layer rolls observed by SAR. J Atmos Sci, 70(11): 3448–3459
Li Xiaofeng, Zhang Jun A, Yang Xiaofeng, et al. 2013. Tropical cyclone morphology from spaceborne synthetic aperture radar. Bull Amer Meteor Soc, 94(2): 215–230
Yang Xiaofeng, Li Xiaofeng, Pichel W G, et al. 2011. Comparison of ocean surface winds from ENVISAT ASAR, MetOp ASCAT scatterometer, buoy measurements, and NOGAPS model. IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens, 49(12): 4743–4750
Zhang Biao, Perrie W. 2012. Cross-Polarized synthetic aperture radar: A new potential measurement technique for hurricanes. Bull Amer Meteor Soc, 93: 531–541
Zhang Biao, Perrie W, Zhang Jun A, et al. 2014. High-resolution hurricane vector winds from C-band dual-polarization SAR observations. J Atmos Oceanic Technol, 31(2): 272–286
Zheng Quanan, Yan Xiaohai, Klemas V, et al. 1998. Coastal lee waves on ERS-1 SAR images. J Geophys Res, 103(C4): 7979–7993
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Foundation item: The NOAA Product Development, Readiness, and Application (PDRA)/Ocean Remote Sensing (ORS) Program funding.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, X. The first Sentinel-1 SAR image of a typhoon. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 34, 1–2 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-015-0589-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-015-0589-8