Analysis of the radar backscatter from the sea surface perturbed by varying surface current induced by bottom topography in shallow waters: Comparison of numerical simulation with SAR data

Abstract

The effect of the interaction between surface currents and bottom topography to the radar cross section (RCS) is investigated using numerical scattering model and SAR data. First, the waveheight spectrum is computed, which corresponds to the sea surface perturbed by a varying surface current under the wind condition at the time of each SAR data acquisition. Surface undulation is then simulated from this waveheight spectrum, and finally, the RCS from the undulated surface are computed by the numerical simulation based on the method of moment. Comparison of the simulated RCS with SAR data and theoretical model results yielded reasonable agreement.e sea surface perturbed by a varying surface current under the wind condition at the time of each SAR data acquisition. Surface undulation is then simulated from this waveheight spectrum, and finally, the RCS from the undulated surface are computed by the numerical simulation based on the method of moment. Comparison of the simulated RCS with SAR data and theoretical model results yielded reasonable agreement.