Very high frequency radiowave scattering by a disturbed sea surface Part II: Scattering from an actual sea surface

A two-scale model of rough surfaces is considered which permits theoretical interpretation of the features of very high frequency (VHF) scattering from such surfaces (say, from a sea surface). The scattering surface is assumed to be a superposition of small-scale ripple and large waves (swell). Reflection from the latter may he considered by the Kirchhoff approximation. The spatial spectrum of corrugations is taken into consideration; the calculations based on this model help to give an explanation of the behavior of the scattered intensity as a function of the angle of incidencepsi, and to establish which factors affect this dependence at various values ofpsi- Theoretically predicted dependence of the scattered intensity upon radio wavelengthlambda, depolarization of the scattered signal, and other features of the scattered radiation are in good agreement with the experimental data obtained from direct measurements. Frequency spectra of the backscattered signal were also investigated (experimental measurements were carried out at wavelengths 3.2 cm, 10 cm, 50 cm, 1.5 m, and 4 m). Observed shifts of the central frequency agree with results of other authors (for the range oflambda = 3cm to 200 m). The measured values of the spectrum width appeared approximately twice those theoretically calculated. This may be explained by the influence of dissipative processes and of fluctuations of the skin-deep layer drift velocities. Space correlation of the backscattered signal was also investigated (both theoretically and experimentally). 50 percent decorrelation occurs at distances compared with dimensions of a wave slope.