High spatial resolution observations of radar scattering from a wave tank

The work described here grew out of a study at the University of Birmingham of HF ground wave radar for sea state sensing. The author presents observations which are preliminary and aimed only to demonstrate how the combination of a computer-controlled wave tank and a 0.5 m resolution Doppler radar is capable of use for diagnostic experiments to identify the mechanisms behind some of the effects which have caused problems in radar oceanography. The identification of the potential for a diagnostic approach to radar scattering from waves, difficult in the open ocean, is established.