The existing operational models limited by their pure empiricism are unable to be applied to microwave frequencies

and the physical model of wind velocity retrieval represented by two scale model are limited by their over simplifications. This paper establishes a wind velocity retrieval model which combines the merits of both theoretical soundness of physical models and the practical applicability of operational models. This paper presents a method for short wind generated wave spectrum based on analyses of existing microwave scattering data at widely varying frequencies. Such short wind generated wave spectrum has been proved very effective in improving the retrieval level and generality of the retrieval models. A new practical wind velocity retrieval model is then formed by using such short wind generated wave spectrum. Comparisons among the computed results based on the present model and those based on other models as well as backscattering measurements are presented in this paper. It is shown that the present model can be successfully applied to a wide range of radar frequencies （0.428—34.4 GHz） and is able to predict the asymmetry of upwind and downwind directions. The agreement between the model predictions and the measurements is satisfactory.