This paper reviews basic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) theory of ocean wave imaging mechanisms, using both known work and recent experimental and theoretical results from the Marine Remote Sensing (MARSEN) Experiment. Several viewpoints that have contributed to the field are drawn together in a general analysis of the backscatter statistics of a moving sea surface. A common focus for different scattering models is provided by the mean image impulse response function, which is shown to be identical to the (spatially varying) frequency variance spectrum of the local complex reflectivity coefficient. From the analysis has emerged a more complete view of the SAR imaging phenomenon than has been previously available. A new, generalized imaging model is proposed.
Long sea waves with periods of 2 to 3 min. and a few inches in amplitude have been measured. It has been shown that they are due to the varying height of groups of waves breaking on the shore. The amplitude of the long waves is found to be approximately proportional to the amplitude of the ordinary waves and independent of their period. The mechanism by which they are produced is discussed.
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