Modulated sea surface radar scatterers at moderate grazing angles

The role of sea clutter spikes in the SAR imaging of sandbanks at 20° grazing angle and HH polarization is investigated. Experimental data is presented and analysed to obtain statistical properties of the spike intensities based on K distributions. The phase statistics are also investigated using a three channel ATI and the velocities of the spikes measured and shown to be consistent with metre scale gravity waves.