Validation of RADARSAT-2 Polarimetric SAR measurements of ocean waves

Four C-band fully polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (POLSAR) images of ocean waves from the RADARSAT-2 SAR are used to measure ocean slopes and wave spectra. A new technique has been developed to measure wave slopes in the SAR azimuth and range directions. The POLSAR ocean wave parameter measurements were validated with in situ observations from an NOAA National Data buoy Center (NDBC) buoy. The results show that wave parameters measured using the new method are in good agreement with in situ NDBC measurement products.