Repetition Rate of Sensing Signals in the Precision Space Oceanographic Radio Altimeter

When designing devices for processing reflected radio signals it is important to know their correlation properties. In the case of the precision oceanographic radio altimeter (PRA), irradiating the sea surface from space orbit altitudes, the reflected signal is subjected to both fast and slow fluctuations. In this paper a study is made of the dependence of the cross-correlation function of interperiod fluctuations and the correlation interval on the parameters of the PRA, irradiation conditions, and sea surface state. The results make possible correct selection of the repetition interval of the sensing signals and the necessary time of smoothing in the PRA tracking system for achieving a stipulated accuracy in measuring height.