Comparisons of SAR estimated wave spectra with WAM model estimates during the SRL Southern Ocean experiment

The Space Radar Laboratory (SRL) flown aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor during two ten-day periods in April and October of 1994 provided a set of approximately 100000 SAR-measured directional ocean wave spectral estimates over the Southern Ocean that was dense along the shuttle's groundtrack. Concurrent with these periods, directional wave spectral data sets calculated by the "third generation" ocean wave model WAM that is operational at the US Navy's Fleet Numerical Oceanographic and Meteorological Center. Comparisons between model-calculated spectra and SAR-estimated spectra are discussed for a subset of SAR passes that imaged an Indian Ocean storm system that exceeded 12 m significant wave height.