Radar sea returns - ocean-ripple spectrum and breaking-wave influence.

Abstract

Reports on the application of Bragg scattering to the remote sensing of sea-surface features, and the relation of radar returns to ocean ripples and surface roughness produced by breaking waves. Relative contributions of ocean ripples and breaking waves to radar returns are discussed for radars of different bands. The exponent of the power law relating the radar return to wind-friction velocity is shown to increase as the Bragg wavenumber increases. (from authors abstract)