RESEARCH ON THE GULF STREAM FRONTAL ZONE USING SYNTHETIC-APERTURE RADAR OF THE ALMAZ-1 SPACECRAFT AND CONTACT SHIPBOARD MEASUREMENTS

Abstract

The results of a joint analysis of data recorded quasisynchronously in the Gulf Stream frontal zone by a radar with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) carried aboard the Almaz-I spacecraft and the Akademik Vernadskiy research ship (contact measurements) are presented. It is shown that the dark linear structures visible on SAR images are radar images of zones of current convergence, in which surfactants are accumulated, suppressing cm-length ripples. In the case of wave propagation in the same direction as the current, the effects of refraction and reflection of surface waves, leading to the formation of regions of concentration of waves at the current boundaries and in the wave “shadow” region, are detected and investigated.