Measuring the Height of Sea Waves by the Method of Radar Sounding with Polarization-Modulated Signals

The methods for determining the height of sea waves that are relevant for maritime navigation have been investigated. Measuring the height of sea waves by the method of radar sounding with polarization-modulated signals is considered. The energy and spectral characteristics of the radar signal reflected by the sea surface at low angles of incidence are described. An algorithm for calculating the average wave height based on the results of measuring the polarization anisotropy of the specific effective scattering surface of a sea area is proposed. The relationship between the average frequency of amplitude fluctuations of the reflected radar signals and the sea waves is given. The spectral characteristics of radar signals reflected by the sea surface when it is irradiated with polarization-modulated signals are analysed. The procedure for producing an effective statistical estimate of the average wave height based on the results of spectral measurements is considered. The errors in the produced estimates of the wave height associated with the errors in measuring the polarization anisotropy of the effective scattering surface and the average frequency of the envelope of amplitude fluctuations caused by the Doppler effect are analysed. The results of experimental measurements of the spectra of amplitude fluctuations of the envelope of reflected signals at different states of the sea surface are presented. The analytical dependence of the polarization anisotropy of the effective sea scattering surface on the irradiation angle relative to the wave propagation direction is given. A comparison of the estimates of the height of sea waves obtained from the data of radar sounding and meteorological observation is carried out.