A new first order theory of the sunglitter imaging mechanism of submerged sand waves and internal waves is presented. These surface signatures are visible in the optical range of the electromagnetic spectrum due to direct sunlight specularly reflected from a roughened sea surface, known as sunglitter radiance. As the tidal flow over irregularities on the submarine sea bed or the current field associated with internal waves create surface roughness variations, sunglitter imagery can be used to detect such features. The results of sunglitter radiance modulations are compared with experimental data of the southern North Sea off the Dutch coast and the sea area off the coast of Massachusetts, USA. Calculations of both the constant background sunglitter radiance and the sunglitter radiance modulation show that these parameters are very sensitive to wind speed, view angle with respect to acquisition time and to observation geometry as a whole.
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