Theory of synthetic aperture radar ocean imaging: A MARSEN view

TLDR

The paper reviews SAR theory of ocean wave imaging and proposes a new generalized imaging model. It synthesizes multiple scattering models by analyzing backscatter statistics of a moving sea surface and showing that the mean image impulse response equals the spatially varying frequency variance spectrum of the local complex reflectivity coefficient. This synthesis yields a more complete view of the SAR imaging phenomenon than previously available.

Abstract

This paper reviews basic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) theory of ocean wave imaging mechanisms, using both known work and recent experimental and theoretical results from the Marine Remote Sensing (MARSEN) Experiment. Several viewpoints that have contributed to the field are drawn together in a general analysis of the backscatter statistics of a moving sea surface. A common focus for different scattering models is provided by the mean image impulse response function, which is shown to be identical to the (spatially varying) frequency variance spectrum of the local complex reflectivity coefficient. From the analysis has emerged a more complete view of the SAR imaging phenomenon than has been previously available. A new, generalized imaging model is proposed.