An Empirical Sea Clutter Model.

Abstract : The extensive sea return data bank acquired with the NRL four-frequency radar system has been used to develop an empirical model for the median value of the normalized radar cross section (sigma sub/) of the sea. This model encompasses a wide range of radar and surface parameters in the microwave region for depression angles from near grazing to vertical incidence. Wind velocity is used as the basic descriptor of the ocean surface, and a power law dependence to (sigma sub/) is found to be applicable to most sea conditions. Comparisons of the model with theory show agreement with both the composite surface theory at moderate depression angles and with the specular point theory at vertical incidence. (Author)