Modelling the visibility of sea-surface films in radar images as a function of wind speed

A simple model is used to evaluate the effect of the wind on the equilibrium wave spectra over slicks and the surrounding ocean, and hence the visibility of slicks in radar images as a function of wind speed. The results show that the inclusion of wave growth through the action of the wind can have a significant effect. This model gives a plausible value for the wind speed above which slicks become difficult to detect, even though a representation of the breaking up of slicks by the wind is not included