In Chapter 2, we considered the phenomenology of sea clutter and its impact on the operation of microwave radar systems. To exploit this knowledge and improve radar performance, we need to understand the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for these clutter properties, so that they can be modelled realistically. At first sight this might seem, in principle at least, to be a simple matter, particularly if use is made of a computer. The fundamental physics of the generation and transmission of microwaves, their interaction with the ocean surface and scattering to the radar receiver is well understood. The ocean and atmosphere have been subject to intensive study for at least a century; the underlying laws of fluid motion have been known for much longer. Can clutter modelling be any more than a matter of assembling these constituent parts and turning the handle?

Chapter Contents:

• 15.1 Introduction
• 15.2 The sea surface
• 15.3 EM scattering from the sea at high grazing angles
• 15.4 Imaging ocean currents at high grazing angles
• References

Inspec keywords: microwave devices; radar clutter; electromagnetic wave scattering; radar receivers

Other keywords: microwave transmission; radar receiver; high grazing angle radar scattering; sea clutter property; fluid motion law; ocean surface; microwave radar system

Subjects: Electromagnetic wave propagation; Radar equipment, systems and applications; Microwave circuits and devices