Seasat radar observations of the Gulf of Alaska by the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and the Wind Speed Scatterometer (SASS) indicates that L-band backscatter is modulated by wind speed and possibly by wind direction. In particular, L-band radar cross-section of the ocean at 23¿¿3¿ angle of incidence and wind speeds between 5m/s and 20m/s is related to wind speed and direction by the following: &sgr;0 &agr; Ua[1+b cos (2ϕ)> where &sgr;0 = L-band radar cross-section U = wind speed ϕ = wind-radar angle a = 0.5¿0.1 b = 0.05¿0.05 This relationship suggests that a combination of Seasat SAR and Scatterometer data may yield high resolution maps of surface winds.