Abstract
Dependenceof C-band radar cross-sectionon the sea surface temperature (SST) is statistically
investigatedby using sigma-0 observed by the ERS-1/AMIscatterometer with collocated ECMWF
wind and temperature data. Negativecorrelation of the sigma-0 with SST is discernible for cases
of crosswind, mid wind speedand high incidence angle. The slopeof the linearregression line
reaches -0.07dB/°C,whichis not negligible for the windobservation by the C-bandscatterometer.
The correlation is not significantfor cases of upwind and downwind incidence or low incidence
angle. TheSSTdependence of C-band sigma-0 is discussed in relation withthe temperature de
pendence of water viscosity. It is concluded, however, that the SST dependence of the C-band
sigma-0 found in the present study may notbe explained by the temperature dependence of vis
cosity.
