volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

The problem of scattering from sea surface covered by oil films is investigated by using a composite random rough surface model. A model is developed which extends the range of validity beyond the small perturbation theory. A general expression for the scattering cross section is obtained taking into account a modulation of the rough surface by long surface waves. A numerical study for the radar scattering cross section is provided in order to investigate the influence of the different ranges of the rough surface spectrum on the backscattering depression. For the case of backscattering, the contrast of radar signals scattered from a slick-free and a slick-covered surface is evaluated. The study is also carried through for two-frequency probing. A possibility to explain the mechanism of the depression of backscattering is discussed. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of the improved model which takes into account the entire spectrum of the sea surface roughness for the description of scattering from an ocean surface with and without oil slicks.

1. Alpers, W. and H. Huhnerfuss, "The damping of ocean waves by surface films: A new look at an old problem," J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 94(C), 6251-6265, 1989.
doi:10.1029/JC094iC05p06251 Google Scholar

2. Singh, K. P., A. L. Gray, R. K. Hawkins, and R. A. O’Neil, "The influence of surface oil on C-and Ku-band ocean backscatter," IEEE Trans. Geosci. Rem. Sens., Vol. 24, 738-744, 1989. Google Scholar

3. Frate, F., A. Petrocchi, Lichtenegger, and G. Calabresi, "Neural network for oil spill detection using ERS-SAR data," IEEE Trans. Geosci. Rem. Sens., Vol. 38, 2282-2288, 2000.
doi:10.1109/36.868885 Google Scholar

4. Solberg, A. H., Schistad, G. Storvik, R. Solberg, and E. Volden, "Automatic detection of oil spills in ERS SAR images," IEEE Trans. Geosci. Rem. Sens., Vol. 37, 1916-1924, 1999.
doi:10.1109/36.774704 Google Scholar

5. Maclin, J. T., "The imaging of oil slicks by synthetic-aperture radar," GEC Journal of Research, Vol. 10, 19-28, 1992. Google Scholar

6. Rice, O., "Reflection of electromagnetic waves by slightly rough surfaces," Commun. Pure Appl. Mathem., Vol. 4, 351-358, 1951.
doi:10.1002/cpa.3160040206 Google Scholar

7. Nieto-Vespirenas, M., "Depolarization of electromagnetic waves scattered from slightly rough random surfaces: a study by means of the extinction theorem," J. Opt. Soc. Am., Vol. 72, No. 5, 539-547, 1982.
doi:10.1364/JOSA.72.000539 Google Scholar

8. Agarwal, G. S., "Interaction of electromagnetic waves at rough dielectric surface," Phys. Rev. B, Vol. 15, 2371-2383, 1977.
doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.15.2371 Google Scholar

9. Beckmann, P. and A. Spizzichino, The Scattering of Electromagnetic Waves from Rough Surfaces, Pergamon, New York, 1963.

10. Fung, A. K., Microwave Scattering and Emission Models and Their Applications, Artech House, Norwood, MA, 1994.

11. Valenzuela, G. R., "Theories for the interaction of electromagnetic and oceanic waves — a review," Boundary Layer Meteorol., Vol. 13, 61-85, 1978.
doi:10.1007/BF00913863 Google Scholar

12. Wright, J. W., "A new model for sea clutter," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 16, 217-223, 1968.
doi:10.1109/TAP.1968.1139147 Google Scholar

13. Conway, J. A., R. A. Cordey, and J. T. Maclin, "Contrasts on two-scale descriptions of backscattering from the sea surface using scatterometer model functions," Proc. IGARSS’88, Edinburgh, ESA SP-284, 33–34, 1988. Google Scholar

14. Brown, G. S., "Backscattering from a Gaussian distributed perfectly conducting rough surface," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 26, 472-482, 1978.
doi:10.1109/TAP.1978.1141854 Google Scholar

15. Hasselmann, K., R. K. Raney, W. J. Plant, W. R. Alpers, R. A. Shuchman, D. R. Lyzenga, C. L. Rufenach, and M. J. Tucker, "Theory of synthetic aperture radar ocean imaging: A MARSEN view," Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 90, 4659-4686, 1985.
doi:10.1029/JC090iC03p04659 Google Scholar

16. Alpers, W. R., D. B. Ross, and C. L. Rufenach, "On the detectability of ocean surface waves by real and synthetic aperture radar," Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 86, 6481-6498, 1981.
doi:10.1029/JC086iC07p06481 Google Scholar

17. Wright, J. W., W. J. Plant, W. C. Keller, and W. L. Jones, "Ocean wave-radar modulation transfer functions from the West Coast Experiment," Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 85, 4957-4966, 1980.
doi:10.1029/JC085iC09p04957 Google Scholar

18. Thompson, D. R., "Calculation of radar backscatter modulation from internal waves," Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 93, 12371-12380, 1988.
doi:10.1029/JC093iC10p12371 Google Scholar

19. Holiday, D., G. St-Cyr, and N. E.Woods, "A radar imaging model for small to moderate incidence angles," Int. J. Remote Sensing, Vol. 7, 1809-1834, 1986.
doi:10.1080/01431168608948971 Google Scholar

20. Kasilingam, D. P. and O. H. Shemdin, "The validity of the composite surface model and its applications to the modulation of radar backscatter," Int. J. Remote Sensing, Vol. 13, 2079-2104, 1992.
doi:10.1080/01431169208904255 Google Scholar

21. Elfouhaily, T., D. R. Thompson, B. Chapron, and D. Vanemark, "A new bistatic model for electromagnetic scattering from perfectly conducting random surfaces," Waves Random Media, Vol. 9, 281-294, 1999.
doi:10.1088/0959-7174/9/3/301 Google Scholar

22. Elfouhaily, T., D. R. Thompson, B. Chapron, and D. Vanemark, "A new bistatic model for electromagnetic scattering from perfectly conducting random surfaces: numerical evaluation and comparison with SPM," Waves Random Media, Vol. 11, 33-43, 2001.
doi:10.1088/0959-7174/11/1/303 Google Scholar

23. Ishimaru, A., Wave Propagation and Scattering in Random Media, Academic Press, New York, 1978.

24. Timchenko, A. I., A. E. Serebryannikov, and K. F. Schuenemann, "The influence of the finite size of the illuminated area on electromagnetic scattering from surfaces with and without slicks," Progress In Electromagnetic Research, Vol. 33, 237-259, 2001.
doi:10.2528/PIER01012103 Google Scholar

25. Stratton, J. A., Electromagnetic Theory, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1941.

26. Holiday, D., L. L. DeRaad Jr., and G. J. St-Cyr, "New equations for electromagnetic scattering by small perturbations of a perfectly conducting surface," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 46, 1427-1432, 1998.
doi:10.1109/8.725273 Google Scholar

27. Holiday, D., G. St-Cyr, and N. E. Woods, "Comparison of a new radar ocean imaging model with SARSEX internal wave image data," Int. J. Remote Sensing, Vol. 8, 1423-1430, 1987.
doi:10.1080/01431168708954785 Google Scholar

28. Holiday, D., "Resolution of controversy surrounding the Kirchhoff approach and the small perturbation method in rough surface scattering theory," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 35, 120-122, 1987.
doi:10.1109/TAP.1987.1143978 Google Scholar

29. Timchenko, A. and A. Tropina, "Subsurface detection and discrimination of buried objects group using remote sensing technique," Proc. IGARSS’99, Vol. 5, 2681-2684, 1999. Google Scholar

30. Rice, S., "Mathematical analysis of random noise," Noise and Stochastic Processes, N. Wax (ed.), Dover Publ., Inc., New York, 1954, 182. Google Scholar

31. Lynch, P. J., "Curvature corrections to rough-surface scattering at high-frequencies," J. Acoust. Soc. Am., Vol. 47, 804-815, 1970.
doi:10.1121/1.1911963 Google Scholar

32. Tatarskii, V. and S. F. Clifford, "On the theory of Dk radar observations of ocean surface waves," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., Vol. 43, 843-850, 1995.
doi:10.1109/8.402204 Google Scholar

Dr. Alla I. Timchenko

Professor Klaus Schuenemann