On possibility to measure the sea surface wind vector by the Doppler navigation system of flying apparatus

Abstract

A possibility of recovering the wind vector over sea using the Doppler navigation system of flying apparatus, which operates in the mode of a multi-beam scatterometer, is discussed, and a measuring algorithm of the sea surface wind speed and direction is proposed. The analysis of the Doppler navigation system, the backscatter model function and the geometry of wind vector measurements have shown that the wind vector over sea can be measured by an airborne Doppler navigation system employed as a multi-beam scatterometer. The principle considered and algorithm proposed in the paper can be used for the creation an airborne radar system for operational measurement of the sea roughness characteristics and for safe landing of an amphibious airplane on water, in particular under search and rescue missions.