A REVIEW OF RADAR SEA ECHO

Abstract

This report briefly reviews the ocean surface characteristics that affect radar echo and summarizes the present status of knowledge of the sea echo as a function of radar grazing angle, sea state and wind, polarization, frequency and other factors. The attempts made in the past to provide theoretical models describing the sea echo are reviewed and lead up to the presently accepted models of scattering surfaces composed of the larger gravity waves on which are superimposed the smaller capillary waves. The influence of sea echo on radar design is discussed and is considerably different than the usual design restraints imposed by thermal noise. The potential application of radar for oceanographic measurements such as sea state and wind is described.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1969
Accession Number
AD0693452

Entities

People

  • Merrill I. Skolnik

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bandwidth
  • Capillary Waves
  • Detection
  • Diffraction
  • Doppler Effect
  • Electromagnetic Scattering
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Shift
  • Grazing Angles
  • Low Angles
  • Microwave Frequency
  • Ocean Waves
  • Radar
  • Radiation
  • Scattering
  • Sea Clutter
  • Surface Tension

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design