An analytical model for the description of the full-polarimetric sea surface Doppler signature

Abstract

This paper describes an analytical model of the full-polarimetric sea surface scattering and Doppler signature. The model combines the small-slope-approximation theory (at the second order) with a weak nonlinear sea surface representation. Such a model is used to examine the variation of the Doppler central frequency/bandwidth and of the normalized radar cross section as function of wind speed and direction. The results suggest that the model can be a valuable tool for the accurate observation of sea surface currents.