K-distributed coherent sea clutter

The properties of coherently detected high-range-resolution radar sea clutter are examined with reference to those properties observed noncoherently. It is shown here how the nonGaussian characteristics of noncoherently detected sea clutter manifest themselves in the coherent domain and how these characteristics require a thorough understanding in order to optimise any detection processing, especially if integration techniques are utilised. In particular it is demonstrated how the compound form of the K-distribution may be employed to model the amplitude statistics in individual range-Doppler cells and how such a description is necessary to take into account their correlation properties