Remote Sensing of Surface Ship Wakes

Abstract

ABSTRACTRecently, there has been much interest in the remote sensing of surface ship wakes using synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Ship wake signatures obtained using a SAR have several prominent features such as a dark trailing centerline region, bright‐line images aligned at some angle to the ship's path, and sometimes the distinctive Kelvin ship wave pattern. The origins of these features are not well understood. Many different theories are available to explain one or more of the features. These theories are often in conflict and no definitive answers are yet available. Much analytical and numerical research, and both laboratory and full‐scale experiments are presently underway in order to develop proper explanations for these features.This paper first describes in some detail the distinctive features of SAR images. Then actual examples from early SEASAT SAR images, the JOWIP/Georgia Straight and SIR‐B experiments, and the recent ONR remote sensing experiments are given. The observed radar image morphology includes dark centerline wake features, narrow‐V bright line features, and Kelvin wave manifestations.