Interpretation of Backscattered HF Radio Waves from the Sea

Abstract

Radar oceanographers have long relied upon a simple diffraction grating model of the sea surface to explain the predominant features in the backscattered Doppler frequency spectrum. It is argued in this paper, however, that the ruled diffraction grating model with scattering localized to wave crests is incorrect and that a sinusoidal grating of period one-half the radio wavelength, with scattering from the entire surface, is the simplest representation of the sea surface which is consistent with both rigorous theory and experimental observation.