Microwave measurements over the North Sea

We investigate the applicability of SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar) to detect waves and other phenomena at sea, for future operational use. Especially, we investigate radar measurements of wave patterns, oil pollution, shipping traffic, and ice reconnaissance and relate these to sea-truth information. The SLAR program benefits from earlier clutter measurements at sea and in a wind-wave tank (carried out by the Physics Laboratory TNO and NIWARS), which have been further elaborated and extended. These are summarized. Results obtained since 1974 lead to the conclusion that the SLAR is applicable for the aforementioned purposes, albeit in a somewhat restricted way. The large resolution cell used, containing a vast number of independent samples, improves the dynamic resolution to about l dB and so turns the SLAR into a sensor eminently suited for the detection of very slight modulations of capillary waves. For the detection of shorter gravity waves, however, especially under severe wind conditions, a finer geometrical resolution might be needed. Results emphasize the need for further fundamental studies of sensor-object interaction.