Measurements on radiation reflected obliquely from a rough surface

Experiments are described, and their results analysed, of the reflection (at oblique incidence) of microwaves of 8 mm wavelength from a rippled water surface. The surface profile was, to a good approximation, randomly rough, and a series of roughness states, extending from `slightly rough¿ to `very rough¿ and whose statistical characteristics were known, were used. The time variation of the amplitude and phase of the reflected radiation was observed for the two principal polarizations of the incident radiation, as well as their covariation when the incident radiation was polarized in a direction at 45° to the plane of incidence. The results are discussed in terms of recently proposed theories, and some encouraging agreement is found.