Title :
Polarimetric observations of wave breaking induced by ship wakes
Author :
Morris, James ; Anderson, Stuart ; Parfitt, Andrew
Author_Institution :
Surveillance Syst. Div., Defence Sci. & Technol. Organ., Salisbury, SA, Australia
Abstract :
Describes two experiments conducted using the DSTO mobile high resolution radar facility to observe wave breaking events induced by ship wakes. In the first experiment high resolution polarimetric range profiles of the wake produced by a displacement hull vessel were recorded at X and Ku band frequencies. Periodic transient enhancements were observed, generated by wave breaking events precipitated by the superposition of the dominant wake components with the crests of the incoming swell. In order to identify the induced wave breaking events unambiguously, the measurements were carried out for ship headings directly into and directly opposed to the prevailing waves. Clear confirmation of the proposed mechanism was thus demonstrated. The second experiment employed a planing hull vessel. Because of the high speed of this ship, the measurement geometry was changed to set one of the diverging wake arms perpendicular to the radar beam. High resolution polarimetric range profiles were then recorded at X and Ku band frequencies
Keywords :
ocean waves; oceanographic techniques; radar polarimetry; remote sensing by radar; ships; wakes; 8 to 18 GHz; DSTO mobile high resolution radar facility; Defence Science and Technology Organisation; Ku-band frequency; X-band frequency; displacement hull vessel; diverging wake arms; incoming swell; periodic transient enhancements; planing hull vessel; polarimetric observations; polarimetric radar; polarimetric range profiles; ship wakes; wave breaking; Frequency; Geometry; Instruments; Marine vehicles; Planing; Radar cross section; Radar measurements; Radar polarimetry; Sea measurements; Velocity measurement;
Conference_Titel :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2001. IGARSS '01. IEEE 2001 International
Conference_Location :
Sydney, NSW
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-7031-7
DOI :
10.1109/IGARSS.2001.978221