The Two-Scale BPM Scattering Model for Sea Biogenic Slicks Contrast

Sea oil slick observation by means of synthetic aperture radar is still a scientific and operational challenge. In this paper, the sea surface scattering with and without biogenic slicks is analyzed by using the two-scale Boundary Perturbation Method scattering model. The surface slick is supposed to modify both the full-range sea surface spectrum and the slope probability density function by means of the Marangoni damping and by a reduced friction velocity. In this paper, the full-range Universite Catholique de Louvain sea surface spectrum is considered. A new contrast model, which overcomes the drawbacks of the contrast model based on the untilted Small Perturbation Method scattering model, is presented and illustrated in some L- and C-band biogenic slick cases.