The features of the microwave signal backscattering at nadir sounding of the sea surface were considered. Joint analysis of radar data and sea buoys allowed to improve the understanding of the relationship of sea wave parameters and the radar signal. It is shown that at small incidence angles the backscattered signal depends primarily on the variance of large-scale slopes, but not the wind speed. One-parametric algorithm for determining the variance of large-scale slopes by backscattered radar cross section was developed. The new algorithm was used to process the data altimeter Topex / Poseidon and confirmed its effectiveness
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