Acoustic ambient noise in the ocean at frequencies of 4.3, 8.0, and 14.5 kHz has been shown to be highly correlated with surface with surface wind speed. Measurement of noise at the sea floor yields estimates of wind speed to within ¿ m/s (r2≥0.845) when compared with coincident surface observations. The frequency dependence of the wind speed-noise relation reported by others (17 dB/decade) has been confirmed, except that separate calibrations are required above and below the speed characterizing whitecap formation. There is also some evidence of local hydrography influencing the absolute calibration.