Surface Evaluation and Definition (Suede) Program

摘要

The first phase of the SUEDE program was to determine the feasibility of utilizing airborne laser techniques to measure sea state parameters and the velocity and direction of wind adjacent to an ocean surface. A summary of facts presently established is as follows: (a) The wind parameters adjacent to a water surface can be inferred remotely through the use of laser electro-optical instrumentation. (b) Wave height can be measured utilizing an AM/cw laser instrumentation concept and suitable data processing techniques. (c) The optimum laser transmission frequency based upon atmospheric transmission parameters as well as operational equipment considerations is 1.06 microns. (d) The SUEDE instrumentation can be constructed now utilizing available state-of-the-art technology and components. (e) Fine grain data on the reflective properties of ocean surfaces subjected to various wind fields is not available. The prototype SUEDE instrumentation would offer the fastest and most inexpensive means of obtaining this data. Accuracy evaluation of projected operational equipment requires this data. (f) Density variations beneath the ocean surface will not produce reflective returns that would modify expected system performance. (Author)