On the focusing issue of synthetic aperture radar imaging of ocean waves

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1990 · IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/36.103301· OSTI ID:5908086

Bruning, C ^[1]; Alpers, W R ^[2]; Schroter, J G ^[3]

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1. Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Meterologie, Bundesstrasse 55, D-2000 Hamburg 13 (DE)
2. Univ. Hamburg, Inst. fuer Meereskunde, Troplowitzstrasse 7, D-2000 Hamburg 54 (DE)
3. Alfred-Wegener-Inst. fuer Polar-und Meeresforschung, D-2850 Bremerhaven (DE)

It is now widely accepted that the imaging of ocean surface waves by synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can be adequately described by velocity bunching theory in conjunction with the two-scale wave model. However, it has been conjectured that this theory is incapable of explaining why, under certain conditions, the image contrast of airborne SAR imagery of ocean waves can be enhanced by defocusing the SAR processor. It this were true it would raise serious doubts about the validity of the velocity bunching theory to describe the SAR imaging of ocean waves. In this paper the velocity bunching theory is defended. It is shown that image contrast enhancement by defocusing can also be obtained by this theory, which does not require the introduction of the phase or group velocity of the long ocean waves as a basic element of the SAR imaging theory.

• OSTI ID: 5908086
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 29:1; ISSN 0196-2892; ISSN IGRSD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER
160100* -- Tidal & Wave Power-- Resources & Availability-- (1990-)
GRAVITY WAVES
IMAGES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
OCEANIC CIRCULATION
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
REMOTE SENSING
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
SYNTHETIC-APERTURE RADAR
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WATER WAVES