Doppler spectra of laboratory wind waves at low grazing angle

Abstract

Eight radar frequencies over a range from 3 GHz to 94 GHz have been used to measure Doppler spectra of wind waves in a laboratory wind-wave tank, at low grazing angle. The VV spectra show relatively little change in shape at different frequencies. The HH spectra show significant trends in the lower radar frequencies, some of which are probably artefacts of the experiment. A new model, the ‘fish model’ is developed empirically from measurements of the peak Doppler spectra for both vertical and horizontal polarization. This model indicates that the H-pol, not just the V-pol, peak Doppler shift is dependent on the radar frequency.