SIGNIFICANT WAVEHEIGHT RETRIEVAL FROM SAR IMAGERY IN TYPHOON MEGI

We present in this work the application and validation of a parameterization function to compute significant wave height (SWH) distributions from SAR derived wind speed maps in tropical cyclones. These SWHs are compared against computations by three different models and in situ measurements of two wave buoys. The parameterization function itself is only based on fetch and duration with relation to the storms center. Due to this relation, we see a high wind distribution dependency within our results. Nevertheless, this approach can be used to tune already existing ocean wave parameter estimations, which directly the SWH from the radar backscatter.