The Effect of Polarization Rotation on the Amplitude of Ionospherically Propagated Sea Backscatter

摘要

Previous experiments have shown that an ocean surface represents a strong source of high-frequency (HF) backscatter. The author has used a 2.5 km receiving antenna array--the world's largest--to study such backscatter both from the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The narrow beamwidth of this antenna (1/3 deg average), together with SFCW sounding, confer unusually good azimuth and time-delay (range) resolution. The resulting detail and clarity has made possible more precise quantitative studies of sea backscatter. A particular goal of these studies is to develop a method of locating storms, or areas of unusual calm. (Author)