一种快速非局部平均合成孔径雷达海洋图像斑点噪声抑制方法

合成孔径雷达在海洋环境监测和海洋研究中扮演着越来越重要的角色。受其成像机制的影响,合成孔径雷达图像总是受到斑点噪声的污染。斑点噪声的存在会增大目标识别、跟踪和分类的难度,也会降低雷达信号的信噪比。合成孔径雷达海洋图像具有一些特殊的性质：海洋现象在雷达图像中主要呈现为条带状或斑块状的结构。这些条带状或斑块状的结构呈现出高度的自相似性或信息冗余。非局部平均方法能够衡量图像中不同图像块之间纹理结构的相似性,并利用图像的自相似性对图像进行去噪。但非局部平均去燥方法存在计算量巨大、计算耗时长的缺点,这几乎限制了其实际应用。本文采用一种自适应方法将雷达图像中的像素点区分为纹理区像素点和平坦区像素点。对纹理区像素点,采用较大的相似窗和搜索窗,对平坦区像素点,采用较小的相似窗和搜索窗,从而提高计算速度。进一步,本文基于计算统一设备并行架构（CUDA）技术,利用计算机图形处理器（GPU）对前述算法进行并行加速。与经典非局部平均算法相比,加速后算法的计算效率提高了200倍。     

A new passive synthetic aperture technique for towed arrays

An algorithm that synthesizes apertures in the beam domain using FFT transformations and performs coherent processing of subaperture signals at successive time intervals is presented. Experimental tests of the algorithm show that for ocean environments with spatial coherence longer than the synthetic aperture length and for signals with temporal coherence longer than the required acquisition time, a synthetic array gain is achieved which roughly corresponds to the length of an equivalent fully populated array. In the experiments, transducer generated CW with phase stability and pseudorandom signals were used. Limitations on the spatial and temporal coherence were introduced only by the medium, the temporal coherence of the pseudorandom signal, and the shape and stability of the line array used     

Vertical synthetic aperture sonar for ocean acoustic tomography

This paper presents the result of a first attempt to achieve a vertical synthetic aperture in the ocean for SOFAR multipath identification. The experiment was conducted during the deployment of a tomographic array in the Mediterranean Sea. Drifting the hydrophone up or down from a ship while listening to the transmitted signal created a powerful synthetic aperture at 400 Hz. Wide-band phase-coded signals, typically used in ocean tomography, were found suitable for this application. The displacement length was 100 m and the hydrophone velocity 1 m/s. The obtained resolution of 1° enabled all the rays in the tested middle range configuration to be resolved and identified. Most of them could not have been resolved with a static hydrophone. Several Doppler processing methods are presented. The narrowband approximation leading to fast algorithms is discussed. Phase time series of individual paths obtained with an array-like wave separation method show that the phase coherence of the different multipaths is nearly perfect. An angle/velocity calibration method and a first rough inversion are finally presented     

基于理论的气旋条件下双极化C波段合成孔径雷达波参数检测

Theoretical-based ocean wave retrieval algorithms are applied by inverting a synthetic aperture radar(SAR)intensity spectrum into a wave spectrum, that has been developed based on a SAR wave mapping mechanism. In our previous studies, it was shown that the wave retrieval algorithm, named the parameterized first-guess spectrum method(PFSM), works for C-band and X-band SAR at low to moderate sea states. In this work, we investigate the performance of the PFSM algorithm when it is applied for dual-polarization c-band sentinel-1(S-1) SAR acquired in extra wide-swath(EW) and interferometric wide-swath(IW) mode under cyclonic conditions.Strong winds are retrieved from six vertical-horizontal(VH) polarization S-1 SAR images using the c-band crosspolarization coupled-parameters ocean(C-3 PO) model and then wave parameters are obtained from the image at the vertical-vertical(VV) polarization channel. significant wave height(SWH) and mean wave period(MWP) are compared with simulations from the WAVEWATCH-III(WW3) model. The validation shows a 0.69 m root mean square error(RMSE) of SWH with a –0.01 m bias and a 0.62 s RMSE of MWP with a –0.17 s bias. Although the PFSM algorithm relies on a good quality SAR spectrum, this study confirms the applicability for wave retrieval from an S-1 SAR image. Moreover, it is found that the retrieved results have less accuracy on the right sector of cyclone eyes where swell directly affects strong wind-sea, while the PFSM algorithm works well on the left and rear sectors of cyclone eyes where the interaction of wind-sea and swell is relatively poor.     

Temporal domain processing for a synthetic aperture array

A method for the synthesis of an aperture with improved bearing resolution and signal gain is described. The proposed method temporally synthesizes data from an overlap correlator, which is obtained by aperture domain averaging of phase differences. Previous studies, such as extended towed array measurements (ETAM), had a restriction in that the overlapped hydrophones between successive measurements of a towed array were required to have identical positions in space. In this paper, however, it is shown that the phase correction factors can be estimated without restriction on the positions of the overlapped hydrophones. This implies that the proposed method is able to utilize more snapshots to extend the towed array. Simulation results showed that the proposed method resulted in higher estimation accuracy than ETAM. In addition, the effects of coherency and other systematic errors on the proposed method were examined     

A novel synthetic aperture radar scattering model for sea surface with breaking waves

In this study a novel synthetic aperture radar(SAR) scattering model for sea surface with breaking waves is proposed. Compared with existing models, the proposed model considers an empirical relationship between wind speed and wave breaking scattering to present the contribution of wave breaking. Moreover, the scattering weight factor p, and wave breaking rate q, are performed to present the contribution of the quasi-specular scattering term, Bragg scattering term, and wave breaking scattering t...     

Passive acoustic synthetic aperture processing techniques

Various parameters associated with the track of a stable CW source moving with constant velocity are estimated using synthetic aperture and Doppler processing techniques. These include the source frequency before Doppler distortion by its motion, the relative speed between the source and a constant velocity receiver, the range at closest approach to the source track, and the relative bearing to the source. Different processing techniques are suggested for a range of signal stabilities and observation times. Frequency analysis, or Doppler processing, supplements conventional synthetic aperture processing, and for relatively unstable signals a synthetic Doppler method is recommended. This method makes use of a rapid scan of signals from a succession of sensors in a horizontal line array to stimulate a higher speed motion of the array     

高分辨率全极化SAR水上桥梁参数反演

高分辨率SAR中,桥梁的各次反射回波表现为条带状,这给桥梁参数的反演带来了困难。本文提出了一种适用于高分辨率全极化SAR的水上桥梁参数反演方法。首先,通过极化散射特征区分出桥梁的单次、二次和三次反射回波目标。然后,结合微波反射和折射的原理,分析了高分辨SAR图像中桥梁的各次反射回波成条带状的原因,在此基础上提出了各次回波目标的提取方法和桥梁参数反演方法。最后,利用获取的AIRSAR数据反演了桥梁的上下桥高、桥厚、桥宽、桥长及桥塔高度等参数,通过与实测数据对比,结果表明,本文的方法能较准确地反演桥梁的各项参数,其中桥高误差仅为1.3%,结果也表明了在高分辨率条件下,C和L波段的桥梁参数反演能力相当。     

The Seasat-A synthetic aperture radar system

The objective of the Seasat-A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system was to detect ocean waves from orbital altitudes. An SAR system operating at 1275 MHz (23-cm wavelength) was designed and built to meet this objective. The choice of wavelength was the result of imagery obtained by aircraft during 1972 to 1974 and ease of implementation. The Seasat. A SAR system was turned on in orbit on July 4, 1978, and gathered imagery until the spacecraft bus failed in orbit in October 1978.     

A sea surface height estimator using synthetic aperture radar complex imagery

The reflectivity density approximately describing electromagnetic scattering from a "two-scale" rough surface has a phase linearly dependent on surface height. The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image is a complicated partially understood transformation of this reflectivity density, but in demonstrable situations the complex image's phase also contains sea height information: reported here is an initial study of an algorithm that exploits this. Envelope and phase demodulation, regression, and filtering algorithms are verified and applied to simulated and actual satellite radar SEASAT-SAR data. The simulation of a simplified stationary scene established tentative sufficient conditions on large-scale SAR and sampling parameters for accurate estimation of the large-scale structure's height and imply feasible system design. The algorithm accurately estimated a long wavelength low-amplitude large-scale sea height structure present in a SEASAT-SAR data record, consistent with available sea truth.     

Alternate schemes in synthetic aperture sonar processing

Suboptimal processing schemes, the application of which is not widespread in synthetic aperture sonar processing, are described with reference to seafloor imaging. It is shown that their application can result in a significant increase of the azimuth resolution of the sonar system with respect to the resolution due to its physical beamwidth, without imposing unreasonable constraints on the sonar platform trajectory.     

一种新的用于极化SAR图像船只检测的散射相似性测度

本文提出了一种新的用于极化合成孔径雷达（SAR）海上船只目标检测的测度。首先利用散射相似性参数研究船只与海杂波散射机制的差异。基于这些差异,提出了一种新的船只检测测度,该测度能够有效区分船只目标和海杂波。然后提出了利用核密度估计（KDE）方法对该测度进行建模的方法。基于统计模型,实现了自适应恒虚警率（CFAR）的检测方案。本文利用多景C波段RADARSAT-2极化SAR（Pol-SAR）数据上进行实验,系统分析了所提出测度的海杂波拟合性能与船只检测性能,并与两个经典的极化测度进行了比较,实验和比较结果证明了所提的测度的可行性。     

Semisupervised heterogeneous ensemble for ship target discrimination in synthetic aperture radar images

Ship detection using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) plays an important role in marine applications. The existing methods are capable of quickly obtaining many candidate targets, but numerous non-ship objects may be wrongly detected in complex backgrounds. These non-ship false alarms can be excluded by training discriminators, and the desired accuracy is obtained with enough verified samples. However, the reliable verification of targets in large-scene SAR images still inevitably requires manual interpretation, which is difficult and time consuming. To address this issue, a semisupervised heterogeneous ensemble ship target discrimination method based on a tri-training scheme is proposed to take advantage of the plentiful candidate targets. Specifically, various features commonly used in SAR image target discrimination are extracted, and several acknowledged classification models and their classic variants are investigated. Multiple discriminators are constructed by dividing these features into different groups and pairing them with each model. Then, the performance of all the discriminators is tested, and better discriminators are selected for implementing the semisupervised training process. These strategies enhance the diversity and reliability of the discriminators, and their heterogeneous ensemble makes more correct judgments on candidate targets, which facilitates further positive training. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms traditional tri-training.     

Detection of buried targets using a synthetic aperture sonar

This paper presents observations of buried target detections made using a 20-kHz synthetic aperture sonar. At grazing angles below the critical angle, surprisingly high signal-to-noise detections were made of cylindrical targets buried at depths of 15 and 50 cm. During a separate set of measurements, buried spheres were clearly seen at steep grazing angles, but were generally not seen below the critical angle. Since scattering from wave-generated sand ripples may contribute to detections at grazing angles below critical angle, the information available on the ripple fields is discussed and used in acoustic backscatter simulations for the buried spheres. Lack of information on the ripple height precludes a definitive explanation for the absence of buried sphere detections at subcritical grazing angles.     

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.     

全极化合成孔径雷达近岸风场反演研究

Coastal winds are strongly influenced by topology and discontinuity between land and sea surfaces. Wind assessment from remote sensing in such a complex area remains a challenge. Space-borne scatterometer does not provide any information about the coastal wind field, as the coarse spatial resolution hampers the radar backscattering. Synthetic aperture radar （SAR） with a high spatial resolution and all-weather observation abilities has become one of the most important tools for ocean wind retrieval, especially in the coastal area. Conventional methods of wind field retrieval from SAR, however, require wind direction as initial information, such as the wind direction from numerical weather prediction models （NWP）, which may not match the time of SAR image acquiring. Fortunately, the polarimetric observations of SAR enable independent wind retrieval from SAR images alone. In order to accurately measure coastal wind fields, this paper proposes a new method of using co-polarization backscattering coefficients from polarimetric SAR observations up to polarimetric correlation backscattering coefficients, which are acquired from the conjugate product of co-polarization backscatter and cross-polarization backscatter. Co-polarization backscattering coefficients and polarimetric correlation backscattering coefficients are obtained form Radarsat-2 single-look complex （SLC） data.The maximum likelihood estimation is used to gain the initial results followed by the coarse spatial filtering and fine spatial filtering. Wind direction accuracy of the final inversion results is 10.67 with a wind speed accuracy of 0.32 m/s. Unlike previous methods, the methods described in this article utilize the SAR data itself to obtain the wind vectors and do not need external wind directional information. High spatial resolution and high accuracy are the most important features of the method described herein since the use of full polarimetric observations contains more information about the space measured.This article is a useful addition to the work of independent SAR wind retrieval. The experimental results herein show that it is feasible to employ the co-polarimetric backscattering coefficients and the polarimetric correlation backscattering coefficients for coastal wind field retrieval.     

Nonlinear ocean internal waves observed by multifrequency synthetic aperture radar

A numerical model which consists of the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation, the action balance equation and the radar backscat- tering model is developed to simulate the frequency dependence of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing of nonlinear o- cean internal waves. Muhifrequency data collected by NASA SIR - C SAR and NASA JPL AIRSAR are used as comparison. Case studies show that the results of simulation agree well with the results of SAR data.     

On the synthetic aperture radar imaging of ocean surface waves

A process of synthetic aperture radar imaging of ocean surface waves is considered on the basis of the two-scale model of microwave scattering by a disturbed sea surface. Analytical expressions are obtained to relate characteristics of a large-scale wave image, averaged over an ensemble of realizations of the small-scale ripple, with the wave, radar, and viewing scheme as parameters. It is shown that the wave image would be defocused as an image of a target moving in the along-track direction with a speed equal to a half of the wave phase speed projection on the line of flight. The defocusing magnitude was measured experimentally for the ocean swells images, obtained with an airborneS-band radar, and the results are found to be in satisfactory agreement with the model prediction.