Depth and amplitude estimation of internal waves from SAR imagery

Imagery from ERS-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has been used to estimate the depth and amplitude of internal waves in the China seas. It is assumed that the observed groups of internal wave packets on SAR imagery are generated by local semidiurnal tides. The mean distance between the leading crest of two successive wave packets has been used to derive the group velocity of the internal waves. The depth and amplitude of internal waves have been calculated from a model which consists of the KdV equation, action balance equation and Bragg scattering model. Results show a good agreement with in situ measurements.

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