HYDRODYNAMICS OF REMOTELY SENSED SURFACE SHIP WAKES

Abstract

Recently, there has been much interest in the remote sensing of surface ship wakes using synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Ship wake signatures obtained using SAR have several distinct features such as a dark trailing centerline region, bright-line images aligned at some angle to the ship's path and sometimes the Kelvin wave pattern. The reasons for these features are not well understood. Many different theories are available to explain one or more of the features. These theories are often in conflict an no definitive answers are yet available. Much analytical and numerical research, and both laboratory and full-scale experiments are presently underway in order to develop proper explanations. This paper surveys the present research and the state of the art in the hydrodynamics of remotely sensed ship wakes.