Synthetic aperture radar simulations from an idealized tidal channel

To gain insight into the effects of currents in tidal channels on SAR imaging, a series of hydrodynamic and SAR simulations were conducted using an idealized tidal channel. Preliminary results from the hydrodynamic and SAR modeling reveal the following: (1) peak modulations lie over mid-channel during flood and over the channel banks during ebb, (2) there is little, if any, change in these positions during respective tidal phases; only during transition is peak migration evident, and (3) there are distinct relationships between NRCS and along-channel current velocity and between NRCS and tide height.