The identification of sea swell using polarimetric radars: a new full wave approach

The statistical characteristics and the orientation of a remotely generated swell superimposed upon a local wind generated rough sea surface are determined from computer simulated polarimetric data. The full wave approach is used to determine the incoherent backscatter Mueller matrix elements and the incoherent backscatter Graves power matrix elements as functions of azimuth angle, the colatitude (angle measured from the vertical axis), and rough sea surface (with swell) parameters. The relationships between the incoherent backscatter Mueller matrix as well as the incoherent backscatter Graves power matrix and the statistical characteristics of the swell and its orientation are presented here. On making suitable selections of the backscatter angle and polarization of the Mueller matrix elements or Graves power matrix elements, it is possible to determine reliably the orientation and statistical characteristics of remotely generated swells. Traditionally only the scattering cross sections are utilized in remote sensing.