Question of the pitch-roll buoy response to ocean waves as a simple harmonic oscillator?

The assumption that the East and North deck slopes of a pitch–roll buoy respond to East and North sea slopes as simple harmonic oscillators is routinely made by the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) and others producing directional wave data. Although directional wave data derived with this assumption usually appear to be of good quality, the validity of the assumption has not previously been more directly demonstrated. In this paper, a method is proposed to judge the validity of the assumption for any set of time series records of buoy angular motion. The proposed method is applied to 200 record sets taken by an NDBC buoy located at ocean station 46024, and to five record sets taken by another NDBC buoy at 46051. For the 46024 data, it was demonstrated that the simple harmonic oscillator assumption was near perfectly valid. For the smaller 46051 data set, the simple harmonic oscillator assumption was shown to be slightly less valid.     

Measurement of ocean surface winds using synthetic aperture radars

A methodology for retrieving high-resolution ocean surface wind fields from satellite-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is introduced and validated. The algorithms developed are suited for ocean SAR data, which were acquired at the C band of either vertical (VV) or horizontal (HH) polarization in transmission and reception. Wind directions are extracted from wind-induced streaks that are visible in SAR images of the ocean at horizontal scales greater than 200 m. These wind streaks are very well aligned with the mean surface wind direction. To extract the orientation of these streaks, two algorithms are introduced, which are applied either in the spatial or spectral domain. Ocean surface wind speeds are derived from the normalized radar cross section (NRCS) and image geometry of the calibrated SAR images, together with the local SAR-retrieved wind direction. Therefore, several C-band models (CMOD IFR2, CMOD4, and CMODS) are available, which were developed for VV polarization, and have to be extended for HH polarization. To compare the different algorithms and C-band models as well as demonstrate their applicability, SAR-retrieved wind fields are compared to numerical-model results considering advanced SAR (ASAR) data from Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT), a European satellite.     

Aircraft measurements of the microwave scattering signature of the ocean

Microwave scattering signatures of the ocean have been measured over a range of surface wind speeds from 3 m/s to 23.6 m/s using the AAFE RADSCAT scatterometer in an aircraft. Normalized scattering coefficients are presented for vertical and horizontal polarizations as a function of incidence angle (nadir to55deg) and radar azimuth angle (0degto360deg) relative to surface wind direction. For a given radar polarization, incidence angle, and azimuth angle relative to the wind direction, these scattering data exhibit a power law dependence on surface wind speed. The relation of the scattering coefficient to azimuth angle obtained during aircraft circles (antenna conical scans) is anisotropic and suggests that microwave scatterometers can be used to infer both wind speed and direction. These results have been used for the design of the Seasat-A Satellite Scatterometer (SASS) to be flown in 1978 on this first NASA oceanographic satellite.     

An Instantaneous-Frequency Filtering Technique for High-Frequency Radar Oceanography

High-frequency (HF) radar systems are remote sensing tools that can be used to measure oceanographic parameters. Problems can occur when using the conventional periodogram (PG) method for computing power spectral estimates from backscattered radar signals. Temporal and spatial inhomogeneities within the radar measurement region can cause distortion in the spectra. This paper describes an instantaneous-frequency (IF) filtering technique that has been developed to measure the first-order modulation contained within the radar signal. Successful removal of this modulation is shown to yield an increased quality and quantity of ocean measurements     

The average impulse responce of a rough surface and its applications

This paper is concerned with the theoretical model for short pulse scattering from a statistically random planar surface with particular application to current state of the art radar altimetry. A short review of the assumptions inherent in the convolutional model is presented. Simplified expressions are obtained for both the impulse response and the average backscattered power for near normal incidence under the assumptions common to satellite radar altimetry systems. In particular, it is shown that the conventional two-dimensional surface integration can be reduced to a closed form solution. Two applications of these results are presented relative to radar altimetry, namely, radar antenna pointing angle determination and altitude bias correction for pointing angle and surface roughness effects. It is also shown that these results have direct application to the analysis of the two frequency system proposed by Weissman, and a possible combined long pulse altimeter and two frequency system is suggested.     

利用C波段RADARSAT-2单极化SAR图像的方位向截断波长估计有效波高

This paper proposes two simple models, look-up table(LUT) model and empirical model, to directly retrieve significant wave height(Hs) using synthetic aperture radar(SAR) azimuth cutoff(λc). Both models aim at C-band VV, HH, VH, and HV single-polarization SAR images. The LUT model relates Hs to λc, while the empirical model relates Hs to both λc and SAR range-to-velocity(β). The LUT model coefficients are derived by simulation under different sea states and observation conditions, which depend on incidence angle(θ), wave direction(dw), and βbut are independent of polarization. The empirical model coefficients are obtained by fitting the collocated data,which only depend on polarization. To fit empirical model coefficients and validate the two models, C-band RADARSAT-2 fine quad-polarization(VV+HH+VH+HV) single-look complex(SLC) SAR images and collocated buoy data are collected. Retrieved Hs, using Yang model and the two models proposed in this paper from four kinds of polarization SAR data, are compared with buoy Hs. Results show that both LUT and empirical models have the capacity of retrieving Hs from C-band RADARSAT-2 co-polarization SAR data, while Yang model is not suitable for these kinds of SAR data. Moreover, the empirical model is also valid for cross-polarization SAR data showing clear ocean wave stripes.     

An analysis of the radar backscatter from oil-covered sea surfaces using moment method and Monte-Carlo simulation: preliminary results

An analysis of the radar backscattering from the ocean surface covered by oil spill is presented using a microwave scattering model and Monte-Carlo simulation. In the analysis, a one-dimensional rough sea surface is numerically generated with an ocean waveheight spectrum for a given wind velocity. A two-layered medium is then generated by adding a thin oil layer on the simulated rough sea surface. The electric fields backscattered from the sea surface with two-layered medium are computed with the method of moments (MoM), and the backscattering coefficients are statistically obtained with N independent samples for each oil-spilled surface using the Monte-Carlo technique for various conditions of surface roughness, oil-layer thickness, frequency, polarization and incidence angle. The numerical simulation results are compared with theoretical models for clean sea surfaces and SAR images of an oil-spilled sea surface caused by the Hebei (Hebei province, China) Spirit oil tanker in 2007. Further, conditions for better oil spill extraction are sought by the numerical simulation on the effects of wind speed and oil-layer thickness at different incidence angles on the backscattering coefficients.     

Polarimetric analysis and modeling of multifrequency SAR signaturesfrom Gulf Stream fronts

Using airborne synthetic aperture radar data from the 1990 Gulf Stream Experiment, this paper investigates the polarization and wavelength dependence of radar signatures for narrow fronts with converging flows occurring within the Gulf Stream. The signal-to-background ratios of the cross-polarization backscatter return from a convergent front were found much higher than those of copolarization returns, when the flight path is crossing the front. However, a second convergent front, imaged at 45°, showed that the signal-to-background ratios are nearly equal for co- and cross-polarizations. A polarimetric procedure, which has been successfully used to measure terrain slopes and to generate elevation maps, is applied to the convergent front to explain the polarization and imaging geometry dependence of these radar responses. A theoretical modeling of radar modulation using an ocean wave model and a composite-Bragg scattering model, which incorporates the effect of breaking waves, was developed. Calculations with the model agree reasonably well with the radar measurements at various polarizations for three radar frequencies: P-band (68 cm in wavelength), L-band (24 cm), and C-band (5.7 cm)     

Ocean wave parameters retrieved directly from compact polarimetric SAR data

We aim to directly invert wave parameters by using the data of a compact polarimetric synthetic aperture radar(CP SAR) and validate the effectiveness of ocean wave parameter retrieval from the circular transmit/linear receive mode and π/4 compact polarimetric mode. Relevant data from the RADARSAT-2 fully polarimetric SAR on the C-band were used to obtain the compact polarimetric SAR images, and a polarimetric SAR wave retrieval algorithm was used to verify the sea surface wave measurements. Usin...     

High resolution polarimetric radar scattering measurements of lowgrazing angle sea clutter

This paper presents fully polarimetric radar scattering measurements of low grazing angle sea clutter. The measurements were obtained at a three degree grazing angle using a high range resolution (1.5 m) X-Band polarimetric radar operated from a shore site overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. The radar employs pulse-to-pulse switching between orthogonal transmitted polarizations and simultaneously measures two orthogonally polarized components of the backscattered wave to obtain full polarimetric information about the scattering process. The complete Stokes matrix, computed by averaging successive realizations of the polarization scattering matrix, is used to obtain polarization signatures and to determine the polarization dependence of the clutter. Sea spike echoes are shown to be weakly polarized and to exhibit polarization signatures indicative of multiple independent scattering mechanisms. Clutter echoes in the absence of sea spikes are shown to be highly polarized and to exhibit polarization signatures indicative of a single dominant scattering mechanism     

Drag Coefficient,Dynamic Roughness and Reference Wind Speed

Surface waves are the roughness element of the ocean surface. The parameterization of the drag coefficient of the ocean surface is simplified by referencing to wind speed at an elevation proportional to the characteristic wavelength. The dynamic roughness is analytically related to the drag coefficient. Under the assumption of fetch limited wave growth condition, various empirical functions of the dynamic roughness can be converted to equivalent expressions for comparison. For datasets covering a wide range of the dimensionless frequency (inverse wave age), it is important to account for the variable rate of wave development at different wave ages. As a result, the dependence of the Charnock parameter on wave age is nonmonotonic. Finally, the analysis presented here suggests that the significant wave steepness is a sensitive property of the ocean surface and a single variable normalization of the dynamic roughness using a wavelength or wave height parameter actually produces more robust functions than bi-variable normalizations using wave height and wave slope.     

The wind-speed measurement capability of spaceborne radar altimeters

This study represents an attempt to quantitatively assess the capability of a spaceborne radar altimeter to infer ocean surface wind speeds from a measurement of the backscattered power at vertical incidence. The study uses data acquired during 184 near overflights of NOAA data buoys with the GEOS-3 satellite radar altimeter and encompasses a wind-speed range from less than 1 to 18 m/s. An algorithm is derived from the data comparison for converting measurements of the normalized scattering cross section of the ocean surface at 13.9 GHz into estimates of the surface wind speed at the standard anemometer height of 10 m. The algorithm is straightforward and potentially useful for on-board processing of raw altimeter data for the purpose of providing real-time estimates of surface wind speed. For winds in the range of 1 to 18 m/s, the mean difference between the altimeter-inferred winds and the buoy measurements is negligible while the standard deviation of the difference is 1.74 m/s.     

Radar backscatter from mechanically generated transient breakingwaves. II. Azimuthal and grazing angle dependence

For Pt. I see ibid. vol. 26, pp. 181-200 (2001). This paper describes the results of experimental investigations into the microwave backscatter from mechanically generated transient breaking waves. The investigations were carried out in a 110 m×7.6 m×4 m deep model basin, utilizing chirped wave packets spanning 0.75-1.75 Hz. Backscatter measurements were taken by a K-band continuous wave radar (24.125 GHz) at 40° angle of incidence, and at azimuth angles of 0°, 45°, 90°, 135° and 180° relative to the direction of wave propagation. Grazing measurements were conducted using an X-band (10.525 GHz) FMCW radar at 85° angle of incidence, and azimuth angles of 0° and 180°. Results show that the maximum radar backscatter was obtained in the upwave direction prior to wave breaking and was caused by the specular or near specular presentation of the wave to the radar. After breaking, the backscatter transitioned from a specular or near-specular dominated scattering, primarily seen in the upwave direction, to a small scale roughness dominated scattering, observed at all azimuths. Physical optics solutions were found to correctly predict the backscatter for the specular or near-specular dominated scattering and the small perturbation method was found to accurately model the VV polarization post-break radar backscatter     

海浪微波散射理论模式

在假设海面白帽为球形气泡层的基础上,利用白帽海面的矢量辐射传输方程各随机粗糙面散射模型建立了海面的微波散射模型。辐射传输方程利用迭代法求解,随机粗糙面散射模型采用双尺度散射模型,利用白帽覆盖率的经验公式计算海面的微波散射特性。数值计算结果表明,随着气泡厚度的增加球形气泡散射系数越来越接近球形粒子散射系数;白帽对散射同的贡献随风速增大而增大;侧风情况比逆风和顺风情况影响均大;水平极化比垂直极化影响大     

Effect of animal orientation on acoustic estimates of zooplanktonproperties

It is well known that the behavior of zooplankton and, in particular, their orientation distribution dramatically affects the level of backscattered acoustic energy. As a result, interpretation of acoustic survey data in the ocean is subject to error. In order to quantify these effects, laboratory data from two important classes of animals were collected. The data involved broad-band (350-650 kHz) acoustic signals insonifying individual animals whose orientation was varied over the range 0°-360° in 1° increments. The animals were from two major anatomical groups: fluid-like (decapod shrimp; Palaemonetes vulgaris) and elastic-shelled (periwinkles; Littorina littorea). The data were analyzed both in the time domain (with pulse compression processing) and the frequency domain. Averages of the laboratory data over different orientation distributions illustrate the variability in average target strength that can be expected in the ocean environment. The average target strength of the shrimp varied by 3 dB when averaged over orientation distributions centered around broadside and end-on incidence. In addition, size estimates from pulse compression processing of the broad-band echoes were made for various orientation distributions for both the shrimp and periwinkles. These results show the necessity of animal orientation information for the proper interpretation of acoustic backscatter data     

基于拟层流风波生成机制的海浪谱模型

海浪谱的能量可以视为由具有不同相速度的谐波携带的能量所组成。基于对风波形成、发展过程的认识,认为各组成谐波的能量由谐波自平均风摄取而来,由此根据拟层流模型推导出谐波能量密度的计算公式,建立以等效风速和峰值频率等为基本参数的海浪谱模型——随机Fourier函数模型,并给出了确定谐波频率、波长、相速度、振幅以及等效风速等模型参数的原则和计算方法。在59个实测样本谱基础上,采用随机建模方法确定模型参数的取值及其概率分布。结果表明,海浪谱模型可以很好地预测谱能,所计算的物理谱与实测谱均值吻合良好。     

Wave dispersion equation in a porous seabed

The wave dispersion equation has played a very important role in the development of ocean surface wave theories. The evaluation of the length of a water wave is an essential example of solving the dispersion relation. Conventional ocean wave theories have been based on an assumption of a rigid impermeable seabed. Thus, the conventional wave dispersion equation can only be used in the case of a wave propagating over a rigid impermeable seabed. For waves propagating over a porous seabed (such as a sandy bed), the conventional dispersion relation is no longer valid because of the absence of the characteristics of the porous seabed. The objective of this study is to establish a new wave dispersion equation for waves propagating over a porous seabed. Based on the new relation, the effects of a porous seabed on wave characteristics (such as the wavelength and wave profile) are discussed in detail.     

中国沿岸验潮站潮汐调和常数的精度评估

论证了验潮站潮汐调和常数的精度指标与精度评估方法,对中国沿岸有代表性的长期验潮站分别按年、月调和分析结果序列进行了调和常数的精度统计计算。结果表明,对于面向开阔海域的验潮站,由年观测资料分析的主要分潮振幅具有毫米级精度,月分析结果具有厘米级精度。而分布于黄海、东海沿岸和北部湾的验潮站,由年、月观测序列求得的调和常数均存在较大量级的趋势性或周期性变化成分。为海图深度基准面计算和潮汐模型精度评价的需要,对调和常数实施修正和规定参考历元是必要的。     

波谱仪调制功率谱估计算法性能的仿真研究

基于星载波谱仪海浪方向谱探测原理,仿真了不同海况、风速下的海浪波谱仪接收信号,并采用周期图法、Welch法、AR模型法以及最小方差法共4种不同的调制谱估计方法反演出海浪谱,比较各种调制谱估计方法的海浪方向谱反演性能。仿真结果表明:对于一定方位向下的一维海浪谱反演,不同调制谱估计方法反演海浪谱性能优劣没有绝对的顺序。对于二维海浪谱反演,在成长中海浪条件下周期图法反演性能最差,其他3种方法的反演性能没有绝对优劣顺序;对于成熟风浪,最小方差法在积分能量误差、有效波高误差两个指标上的反演性能最好,在主波波向、主波波长误差上,周期图法反演性能最差,其他3种方法没有绝对优劣顺序。在涌浪条件下,AR模型法反演性能优于其他3种方法。在不同海况下,随着波谱仪中心入射角的下降,反演性能会下降。基于这些仿真结果,本文推荐最小方差法作为充分成长海浪的海浪方向谱反演的调制谱估计方法,AR模型法作为涌浪海浪方向谱反演的调制谱估计方法。     

Measurements of higher harmonic wave forces on a vertical truncated circular cylinder

Wave forces on a vertical truncated circular cylinder in Stokes waves with the wave slopes ranging from 0.06 to 0.24, are measured in a wave tank. The higher harmonic wave forces are compared with the available values from theories of the FNV (Faltisen–Newman–Vinje) model and Varyani solution. The first harmonic horizontal forces measured are much larger than the theoretical values from the FNV model, while the first harmonic vertical forces are well predicted by the Varyani theory. It was also found that the FNV model significantly overpredicts the second harmonic horizontal forces in high frequency waves, but under predicts the third harmonic forces. The differences between the actual measurement and the theory, in the second and third harmonic horizontal forces, become smaller at low wave frequencies as the wave slope increases. In addition, the transverse instabilities in the incoming waves with high wave slope were observed, which is due to the nonlinear modulation. Measurements were, thus, carried out before the instability occurred.