Back-Scattering Characteristics of Realistic Breaking Waves

Abstract

The breaking waves on the sea-surface account for the sea-spikes in radar echo and lead to excessive false detections. To study the back-scattering characteristics of breaking waves in more detail, the realistic breaking wave sequential are numerically modeled by solving the govern fluid equations. Meanwhile, the back-scattering of breaking waves from different directions and polarizations are calculated by using the full-wave finite element method. It is found that the super events in sea-spikes are associated with some specific stages in the breaking cycle. The back-scattering characteristics of breaking waves compared with those of the wedge model are also investigated to justify the validity of wedge model approximation.