Use of SAR wind measurement techniques to support offshore wind farming

Active microwave radar satellites transmit and receive radar signals with wavelengths in the range of centimeters to one meter thus measuring the roughness of the sea surface, which enables the retrieval of wind and ocean wave fields. Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR) are capable of imaging synoptic wind fields with a coverage of up to 500 km x 500 km and a resolution of down to 100 m. As the radar signals penetrate clouds these sensors have all weather capability [1] and can acquire data as well during nighttime. Therefore, they are especially suited for sea surface observations in coastal regions and in severe weather conditions [2].