No abstract

We consider the principles of radar sounding of the ocean surface using interferometers to reconstruct the level and velocity fields on the ocean surface. Likelihood functions are used to calculate the optimal algorithm of useful-signal isolation and the potential threshold sensitivity of interference synthetic-aperture radars with respect to the fields of the velocity and level of the ocean surface, depending on the instrumental, trajectory, and natural factors. The possibility to use space observations to reconstruct both small-scale fields of the altitude and the orbital velocity of energy-carrying wind waves and mesoscale fields, e.g., the field of altitudes of seismic gravity waves and the velocity field of geostrophic currents, is considered.

No abstract

The economic, scientific, defense, and ecological interests of Russia, progress in the development of remote sensing methods, as well as increased operating costs and forced downsizing of the Russian research fleet mandate the accelerated development of oceanic research from space. The fundamentals of a plan for the development of such research during 1996-2015 are outlined and a three-stage program, ending with the organization of a Russian Oceanological Satellite System (ROSS), is proposed. The proposed conception is based on Meteor-3 and Resurs-Arktika satellites and on traditional remote sensing methods and continuing research being conducted in Russia.