Research on wave height cross-sections of UHF radio wave scattering from periodic water surface waves

Abstract

The relationship between wave field information (wave height, wavelength, etc.) and radar echo is hard to analyze with conventional measurement and extraction methods due to the randomness and complexity of the ocean. To improve wave field information estimates, we used an ultrahigh-frequency (340 MHz) radar to probe subscale water waves in the laboratory. First-order radar cross-section Doppler spectra were measured and analyzed. The results indicate a significant linear correlation between RCS (dB) and wave height (dB) (all correlation coefficients R > 0.9) but no linear correlation exists between RCS (dB) and wavelength (dB).