Abstract
Visible and microwave satellite measurements can provide the global
whitecap fraction. The bubble clouds are three-dimensional structures,
and a space-based lidar can provide complementary observations of the
bubble depth. Here, we use lidar measurements of the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar
and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite to
quantify global bubble depth from depolarization. The relationship
between CALIPSO bubble depth and wind speed from the Advanced Microwave
Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) and AMSR2 is similar to a recently
derived relationship based on buoy measurements. The CALIPSO-based
bubble depth data show global distributions and seasonal variations
consistent with the high wind speed (> 7 m/s) but with some
variance. We also found similarities between the CALIPSO bubble depth
and the whitecap fraction from AMSR2 and WindSat. Our findings support
using spaceborne lidar measurements to advance the understanding of the
3D bubble properties and ocean physics at high wind speeds.