High-Frequency Radar Cross Section of Ocean Surface for an FMICW Source

Abstract

The frequency-modulated interrupted continuous waveform (FMICW) has been widely used in remotely sensing sea surface states by high-frequency ground wave radar (HFGWR). However, the radar cross section model of the sea surface for this waveform has not yet been presented. Therefore, the first- and second-order cross section models of the sea surface about this waveform are derived in this study. The derivation begins with the general electric field equations. Subsequently, the FMICW source is introduced as the radar transmitted signal to obtain the FMICW-incorporated backscattered electric field equations. These equations are used to calculate range spectra by Fourier transforming. Therefore, Fourier transformation of the range spectra calculated from successive sweep intervals gives the Doppler spectra or the power spectral densities. The radar cross section model is obtained by directly comparing the Doppler spectra with the standard radar range equation. Moreover, the derived first- and second-order radar cross section models for an FMICW source are simulated and compared with those for a frequency-modulated continuous waveform (FMCW) source. Results show that the cross section models for the FMICW and FMCW cases have different analytical expressions but almost the same numerical results.