Nearshore Sea Clutter Measurements from a Fixed Platform
Abstract
This report describes a set of experiments performed in support of ONR's Environmental Sensing and Motion Forecast (ESMF) Program. The goal of the experiments was to obtaindata to evaluate the ability of low-grazing angle radars to provide near-field, nearreal time sea state data suitable for enabling a high-fidelity ship control system to control ship motion during Sea Basing ship-to-ship logistic operations in Sea State (SS) 4 and below. More specifically, the test evaluated the ability of radars to quantify characteristics of ocean waves via their radar cross-section (RCS) and Doppler signature. Measurements were performed using two different types of radar: a calibrated linear FM homodyne X- and Ku-band instrumentation radar (SCI, Inc., DREAM system), and an uncalibrated X-band navigation radar (Furuno) integrated with the WaMoS II ocean monitoring system. Both radars were mounted at the end of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) pier in La Jolla, CA, and measured ocean waves in a region approximately one nautical mile offshore. Another key component of this test was to obtain data to improve our understanding of ocean wave multipath physics, and explore means of improving the existing models for multipath signals generated by rough ocean surfaces. To meet these needs, the test also consisted of multipath measurements in addition to the sea clutter measurements. The former consisted of tests that measured the RCS of trihedrals mounted on a small boat, which varied the trihedrals' position in range and height, to provide a means of evaluating RCS from a known source and source location over a rough ocean surface. Independent measurements of the wave field were also performed using (i) an instrumented small boat positioned near the region being measured by the radars, (ii) miniature wave buoys deployed from the small boat, and (iii) by semi-permanent wave buoys operated in the vicinity of the test area.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA560458
Entities
People
- Anne M. Fullerton
- Craig F. Merrill
- Erin E Hackett
- Thomas C. Fu
Organizations
- Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division