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Backscatter of microwaves from the sea surface and the modulation of spectra of short gravity waves

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Abstract

Backscatter cross-sections of microwaves from the sea surface are calculated by using the facet model and are compared withJonswap '75 experimental results. The principal features obtained are: (1) asymmetry of backscatter cross-sections between upwind and downwind directions is attributable to the modulation of the short gravity-capillary wave spectrum by a larger wave, and the non-Gaussian wave slope distribution has a tendency to cancel this effect, (2) angular spreading of the energy spectrum in the higher frequency range should have a narrower band than a simple cosine distribution, (3) the facet model itself should begin to break down at a larger incident angle than previously supposed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Coastal Oceanology, National Research Center for Disaster Prevention, Science and Technology Agency, Nijigahama, Hiratsuka, 254, Kanagawa, Japan

    Noriyuki Iwata

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  1. Noriyuki Iwata
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Iwata, N. Backscatter of microwaves from the sea surface and the modulation of spectra of short gravity waves. Journal of the Oceanographical Society of Japan 39, 43–52 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02210758

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02210758

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