A Comparison Between Multiple Launch Angle Method (MLAM) and Single Launch Angle Refractivity-from-Clutter (RFC) Technique

Abstract

Lower atmospheric ducts in ocean and littoral regions can be retrieved using sea surface backscattering. This technique is called Refractivity-from-Clutter (RFC). Improving currently available RFC techniques is an active area of research. The duct effects on an EM signal depends on the angle that the signal is launched. Hence, using multiple launch angles might be a good way to improve the RFC inversion technique. This paper is a theoretical study of how using multiple launch angles in RFC inversion can improve the duct estimation with respect to using a single launch angle.