L-Band Seawater Dielectric Measurements: Mode Coupling Analysis for the Exit-Hole Effect

This paper describes the accurate dielectric measurements of seawater by employing a resonant cavity technique at L-band. The seawater dielectric data can be used in the radiometric measurement of sea surface salinity from space. The latest measurement results indicate additional accuracy is needed to meet the salinity retrieval requirements. In regard to this, the bias in the measurement due to the cavity exit-hole effect has been investigated. The results of the exit-hole effect analysis will be addressed.