Coherent microwave radar backscatter from shoaling and breaking sea surface waves

Abstract

This paper presents the dynamic features of gravity waves based on coherent radar observations. We demonstrate that it is practical to detect wave breaking events via the sea surface backscattering intensity and Doppler velocity. Both parameters are acquired from coherent X-band radars operating at grazing incidence. Our measurements show a range dependency of the Doppler velocity which results from the wave shoaling as well as wave shadowing due to the low grazing angle of the observations. After separating these two effects, we can estimate the energy loss due to wave shoaling and wave breaking.