Radar Scattering From a Rolling Target Floating on a Time-Evolving Rough Sea Surface

Abstract

The variations in the radar cross section (RCS) of two-dimensional floating targets are studied by means of a numerical model. Of particular interest is the rolling of a target on the waves. It is found that the rolling motion has the most significant effect on the RCS for low-grazing angles of incidence. The effect is very pronounced for a high-RCS shiplike target due the corner-reflector effect between the sea surface and the ship hull, and less noticeable for a low-RCS shape. A simplified means of estimating the variation is also presented