Statistical characterization of radar sea scatter for breaking wave detection

Radar backscatter data are collected using a coherent, dual-polarized radar from a fixed tower in the ocean. Statistical analysis is performed to investigate the 1D and 2D probability density functions of backscatter intensity, Doppler frequency, coherence function and polarization ratio. The fraction of sea spike coverage generally increases with wind speed but the trend of increase is modified by the intensity of background swell condition. Parameterizations of sea spike coverage combining both wind and wave factors show some apparent advantage than parameterizations with wind or wave factors alone.