Joint magnitude and phase properties of numerically simulated highresolution VV- and HH-polarized X-band Sea backscatter over wide range of incidence angles

Joint properties of high-resolution coherent sea surface backscatter at different polarizations are studied using two-dimensional (2-D) direct numerical simulations based on a first-principles boundary integral equation technique. The quantities considered include the joint probability density function for HH and VV intensities and the distribution for the phase difference between the two polarization channels. Various distribution moments and polarimetric parameters such as entropy and “alpha angle” are also examined, including their sensitivity to wind speed and noise. A broad span of incidence angles (ranging from 20 to 85 degrees) is considered, which helps elucidate the trends as backscattering geometry evolves towards low grazing regime.