Quantification of non-homogeneity from ocean remote-sensing images using two-dimensional continuous wavelet transforms

Abstract

In this study, a two-dimensional continuous wavelet transform is applied to quantify the non-homogeneity from remote-sensing wave images. Our study shows that the non-homogeneity index, which is proposed here, is capable of identifying the degree of non-homogeneity from the wave-field images. However, the influence from the edges of the wave-field image should be considered in analysis. The calculated results from the simulated wave fields and from the natural wave-field images reveal that the non-homogeneity index is influenced by the bathymetry inside the area of the ocean-wave image. It conforms to the character of the natural wave non-homogeneity. After discussing the wave characteristics from the wave-field image with a high non-homogeneity index, an inhomogeneous algorithm is recommended for obtaining accurate and reasonable wave results from the wave image.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, ROC under the NCKU Project of Promoting Academic Excellence & Developing World Class Research Centers. The radar images are provided by the Water Resources Agency in Taiwan, ROC. The authors would like to offer the great thanks to the agencies. In addition, the authors are grateful to the referees for helpful comments and suggestions.