Polarimetric SAR measurements of slope distribution and coherence changes due to internal waves and current fronts

Studies have shown that polarimetric SAR may be used to measure terrain slopes and surface roughness. These measurement concepts have been extended here to study slope distributions generated by surface manifestations of internal waves, as well as, by convergent current fronts. Measurements/modeling of these ocean features are generally done using backscatter intensity modulations. In this work, internal wave induced changes in the polarimetric orientation angle are measured. These changes are then used to estimate those perturbations in the ambient wave slope distribution and coherence that are directly caused by the internal wave.