Bistatic scattering from an anisotropic sea surface: Numerical comparison between the first-order SSA and the TSM models

Abstract

The first-order small-slope approximation (SSA-1) model is used for numerical predictions of the normalized radar cross section (NRCS) of an anisotropic ocean surface in bistatic configurations for the K u -band radar frequency. The calculations were made by assuming the Elfouhaily et al. surface-height spectrum for fully developed seas. In the forward–backward case, the SSA-1 presents an agreement with the geometric optics limit of the Kirchhoff approximation results in the near-specular directions where it is well known that the last model works well. In the fully bistatic case, SSA-1 numerical results are compared with those of the two-scale model in several configurations as a function of wind speed, wind direction, incident/scattering angles and for co-and cross-polarization states. Good agreement between the two models is noted in the co-and cross-polarization case with a small difference of about 1–2 dB. But in certain configurations, the SSA-1 model tends to overestimate the radar cross section peak behaviour. This irregularity is discussed and interpreted. The main purpose of this paper is to analyse NRCS predictions based on the SSA-1 model in a fully bistatic configuration.