Simulation of SAR Ocean Turbulence Signatures using Direct Numerical Simulation and Radar/Hydrodynamic Modelling

Conference: EUSAR 2012 - 9th European Conference on Synthetic Aperture Radar
04/23/2012 - 04/26/2012 at Nuremberg, Germany

Proceedings: EUSAR 2012

Pages: 4Language: englishTyp: PDF

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Authors:
George, Simon G. (Astronautics Research Group, Faculty of Engineering & the Environment, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, UK)
Tatnall, Adrian R. L. (University of Southampton, UK)

Abstract:
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has shown remarkable ability to resolve turbulent phenomena such as eddies, breaking waves and ship wakes. Ship-wake turbulence was simulated using Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) techniques and translated to simulated Normalised Radar Cross-Section (NRCS) and SAR imagery through use of existing radar/hydrodynamic models. Simulated remote-sensing signatures are presented and analysed for the ability to resolve turbulent structure from the resulting imagery and improve understanding of the relationships between small-scale turbulence and radar backscattering. The results obtained indicate that turbulent structure embedded in ship wakes can be translated to and resolved by changes in radar backscatter.