A computer simulation of relative backscattering coefficients of sea surfaces in satellite altimetry

The purpose of this study is to establish a method for estimating the sea wave period by satellite radar altimetry. The backscatter coefficient, which is closely related to the period, is evaluated by computer simulation. Specifically, the following method is presented. The sea wave is modeled on the basis of the Pierson–Moskowitz spectrum. The average received power is determined by radar altimetry simulation of our proposal. It is shown that the backscatter coefficient of the sea surface can be calculated on a relative basis. Using the data for the relative received power calculated from various sea wave parameters, the relation between the significant wave height and the backscatter coefficient, and also the relation between the significant wavelength and the backscatter coefficient, are derived. Thus, the possibility of observing the sea wave period by using satellite radar altimetry is demonstrated. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 90(12): 121–128, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20428