The influence of two-dimensional currents on the sea surface radar backscattering coefficient

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the current field modulation is described using a solution of the wave action equation. Using an integrated equation model (IEM), a current field modulated scattering model is established. The sea surface backscattering coefficient decreases with increasing current speed. At high wind speeds, the change of backscattering coefficient under 1 m $\cdot$ s⁻¹ current field modulation is about 1 dB. An increase of 60° in the angle between wind and current direction leads to a decrease of 1.5 dB in the modulation coefficient. Finally, the model is verified using satellite data.

KEYWORDS:

• SAR
• two-dimensional sea surface current
• wave–current interaction
• IEM
• backscattering coefficient

Acknowledgments

Thank you for Professor R. Romeiser’s M4S model’s contribution to the simulation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 62031005], Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation [No. ZR2020MD097].