Optimum detection of Weibull-distributed targets

The backscattered power from an ocean-observing radar usually contains large, randomly spaced excursions often called sea spikes. These spikes can be considered as fluctuating targets embedded in a fluctuating background. The power returned from the fluctuating targets can be modeled as having a Weibull probability density function. The power from the fluctuating background can be modeled as an exponential probability density function. The authors examine a simple scheme for detection of the fluctuating targets in the single-hit case using a fixed-threshold detector. The detection threshold is calculated via the maximum a posteriori decision rule