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Experimental investigation of fluctuations of radar signals caused by surface waves

  • Experimental and Field Research
  • Published:
Physical Oceanography

Abstract

On the oceanographic platform of the Marine Hydrophysical Institute of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, we performedin situ investigations of surface waves based on the analysis of the fluctuations of radar signals at a wavelength of 1.2 cm. We analyzed both the traditional modulation transfer function used to describe variations of the scattering cross section for the scales of surface waves and the correlation of mean variations of the level of radar signals with the group structure of waving. This is of interest for applications in medium-resolution radar systems (−200–500m) recording the group structure of waving in the process of its smoothing. The experimental estimations of the amplitude of variations of radar signals caused by the group structure of waving are in good agreement with numerical results obtained with the help of a two-scale model of scattering of radar signals by the sea surface.

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Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev

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Grodsky, S.A., Kudryavtsev, V.N., Bol'shakov, A.N. et al. Experimental investigation of fluctuations of radar signals caused by surface waves. Phys. Oceanogr. 11, 333–352 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02509228

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