Characterization of X-band radar sea-clutter in a limited fetch condition from low to high grazing angles

Abstract

X-band radar sea-clutter data covering grazing angles from 3 to 56 degrees and 360 degrees in azimuth from an immature sea conditions with about 20 km fetch have been characterized. Clutter mean backscatter intensity and k-distribution shape parameter dependencies on geometry have been addressed. Doppler spectrum widths and behavior of Doppler spectrum in different sea states shows different behavior. A high resolution measurement in grazing angle covering a broad range presents an almost continuum of data points that fit very well with modeled mean backscatter curves.