Fast monostatic GPR modeling

We propose the exploding-reflector method to simulate a monostatic survey with a single simulation. The exploding reflector, used in seismic modeling, is adapted for ground-penetrating radar (GPR) modeling by using the analogy between acoustic and electromagnetic waves. The method can be used with ray tracing to obtain the location of the interfaces and estimate the properties of the medium on the basis of the traveltimes and reflection amplitudes. In particular, these can provide a better estimation of the conductivity and geometrical details. The modeling methodology is complemented with the use of the plane-wave method. The technique is illustrated with GPR data from an excavated tomb of the nineteenth century.

Validation of RADARSAT-2 fully polarimetric SAR measurements of ocean surface waves

C band RADARSAT-2 fully polarimetric (fine quad-polarization mode, HH+VV+HV+VH) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images are used to validate ocean surface waves measurements using the polarimetric SAR wave retrieval algorithm, without estimating the complex hydrodynamic modulation transfer function, even under large radar incidence angles. The linearly polarized radar backscatter cross sections (RBCS) are first calculated with the copolarization (HH, VV) and cross-polarization (HV, VH) RBCS and the polarization orientation angle. Subsequently, in the azimuth direction, the vertically and linearly polarized RBCS are used to measure the wave slopes. In the range direction, we combine horizontally and vertically polarized RBCS to estimate wave slopes. Taken together, wave slope spectra can be derived using estimated wave slopes in azimuth and range directions. Wave parameters extracted from the resultant wave slope spectra are validated with colocated National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoy measurements (wave periods, wavelengths, wave directions, and significant wave heights) and are shown to be in good agreement.

A new model to estimate significant wave heights with ERS-1/2 scatterometer data

A new model is proposed to estimate the significant wave heights with ERS-1/2 scatterometer data. The results show that the relationship between wave parameters and radar backscattering cross section is similar to that between wind and the radar backscattering cross section. Therefore, the relationship between significant wave height and the radar backscattering cross section is established with a neural network algorithm, which is, if the average wave period is <= 7s, the root mean square of significant wave height retrieved from ERS-1/2 data is 0.51 m, or 0.72 m if it is >7s otherwise.

Wave parameters retrieved from QuikSCAT data

A new algorithm is proposed to estimate significant wave height from QuikSCAT scatterometer data. The results show that the relationship between wave parameters and the radar backscattering cross section is similar to that between wind and the radar backscattering cross section. Therefore, the relationship between significant wave height and the radar backscattering cross section is established with a neural network algorithm. If the average wave period is less than or equal to 7 s, the root mean square errors of the significant wave height retrieved from QuikSCAT data are 0.58 m for HH polarization (HH-pol) and 0.60 m for VV polarization (VV-pol). If the average wave period is greater than 7 s, the root mean square errors of the significant wave height retrieved from QuikSCAT data are 0.83 m (HH-pol) and 1.10 m (VV-pol), respectively.

On SAR wind speed ambiguities and related geophysical model functions

Recent investigations show that normalized radar cross sections for C-band microwave sensors decrease under high wind conditions with certain incident angles instead of increase, as is the case for low to moderate wind speeds. This creates the problem of ambiguities in high wind speed retrievals from synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In the present work, four geophysical model functions (GMFs) are studied, namely the high wind C-band model 4 (CMOD4HW), C-band model 5 (CMOD5), the high wind vertical polarized GMF (HWGMF_VV), and the high wind horizontal polarized GMF (HWGMF_HH). Our focus is on model behaviours relative to wind speed ambiguities. We show that, except for CMOD4HW, the other GMFs exhibit the wind speed ambiguity problem. To consider this problem in high wind speed retrievals from SAR, we focus on hurricanes and propose a method to remove the speed ambiguity using the dominant hurricane wind structure.

Speed ambiguity in hurricane wind retrieval from SAR imagery

Under strong ocean surface wind conditions, the normalized radar cross section of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is dampened at certain incident angles, compared with the signals under moderate winds. This causes a wind speed ambiguity problem in wind speed retrievals from SAR, because two solutions may exist for each backscattered signal. This study shows that the problem is ubiquitous in the images acquired by operational space-borne SAR sensors. Moreover, the problem is more severe for the near range and range travelling winds. To remove this ambiguity, a method was developed based on characteristics of the hurricane wind structure. A SAR image of Hurricane Rita (2005) was analysed to demonstrate the wind speed ambiguity problem and the method to improve the wind speed retrievals. Our conclusions suggest that a speed ambiguity removal algorithm must be used for wind retrievals from SAR in intense storms and hurricanes.

The effects of random surface waves on the steady Ekman current solutions

The response of near-surface current profiles to wind and random surface waves are studied based on the approach of Jenkins [1989. The use of a wave prediction model for driving a near surface current model. Dtsch. Hydrogr. Z. 42,134-149] and Tang et al. [2007. Observation and modeling of surface currents on the Grand Banks: a study of the wave effects on surface currents. J. Geophys. Res. 112, C10025, doi:10.1029/2006JC004028]. Analytic steady solutions are presented for wave-modified Ekman equations resulting from Stokes drift, wind input and wave dissipation for a depth-independent constant eddy viscosity coefficient and one that varies linearly with depth. The parameters involved in the solutions can be determined by the two-dimensional wavenumber spectrum of ocean waves, wind speed, the Coriolis parameter and the densities of air and water, and the solutions reduce to those of Lewis and Belcher [2004. Time-dependent, coupled, Ekman boundary layer solutions incorporating Stokes drift. Dyn. Atmos. Oceans. 37, 313-351] when only the effects of Stokes drift are included. As illustrative examples, for a fully developed wind-generated sea with different wind speeds, wave-modified current profiles are calculated and compared with the classical Ekman theory and Lewis and Belcher's [2004. Time-dependent, coupled, Ekman boundary layer solutions incorporating Stokes drift. Dyn. Atmos. Oceans 37, 313-351] modification by using the Donelan and Pierson [1987. Radar scattering and equilibrium ranges in wind-generated waves with application to scatterometry. J. Geophys. Res. 92, 4971-5029] wavenumber spectrum, the WAM wave model formulation for wind input energy to waves, and wave energy dissipation converted to currents. Illustrative examples for a fully developed sea and the comparisons between observations and the theoretical predictions demonstrate that the effects of the random surface waves on the classical Ekman current are important, as they change qualitatively the nature of the Ekman layer. But the effects of the wind input and wave dissipation on surface current are small, relative to the impact of the Stokes drift. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new wind vector algorithm for C-band SAR

Ocean wind speed and wind direction are estimated simultaneously using the normalized radar cross sections or' corresponding to two neighboring (25-km) blocks, within a given synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image, having slightly different incidence angles. This method is motivated by the methodology used for scatterometer data. The wind direction ambiguity is removed by using the direction closest to that given by a buoy or some other source of information. We demonstrate this method with 11 EN-VISAT Advanced SAR sensor images of the Gulf of Mexico and coastal waters of the North Atlantic. Estimated wind vectors are compared with wind measurements from buoys and scatterometer data. We show that this method can surpass other methods in some cases, even those with insufficient visible wind-induced streaks in the SAR images, to extract wind vectors.

Depth inversion in coastal water based on SAR image of waves

Wave-number spectrum technique is proposed to retrieve coastal water depths by means of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image of waves. Based on the general dispersion relation of ocean waves, the wavelength changes of a surface wave over varying water depths can be derived from SAR. Approaching the analysis of SAR images of waves and using the general dispersion relation of ocean waves, this indirect technique of remote sensing bathymetry has been applied to a coastal region of Xiapu in Fujian Province, China. Results show that this technique is suitable for the coastal waters especially for the near-shore regions with variable water depths.

Application of effective medium approximation theory to ocean remote sensing under wave breaking

Based on the effective medium approximation theory of composites, the empirical model proposed by Pandey and Kakar is remedied to investigate the microwave emissivity of sea surface under wave breaking driven by strong wind. In the improved model, the effects of seawater bubbles, droplets and difference in temperature of air and sea interface (DTAS) on the emissivity of sea surface covered by whitecaps are discussed. The model results indicate that the effective emissivity of sea surface increases with DTAS increasing, and the impacts of bubble structures and thickness of whitecaps layer on the emissivity are included in the model by introducing the effective dielectric constant of whitecaps layer. Moreover, a good agreement is obtained by comparing the model results with the Rose's experimental data.

Remote sensing of ocean waves by polarimetric SAR

A new method to measure ocean wave slope spectra using fully polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (POLSAR) data was developed without the need for a complex hydrodynamic modulation transform function. There is no explicit use of a hydrodynamic modulation transfer function. This function is not clearly known and is based on hydrodynamic assumptions. The method is different from those developed by Schuler and colleagues or Pottier but complements their methods. The results estimated from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR) C-band polarimetric SAR data show that the ocean wavelength, wave direction, and significant wave height are in agreement with buoy measurements. The proposed method can be employed by future satellite missions such as RADARSAT-2.

Wind-vector estimation for RADARSAT-1 SAR images: Validation of wind-direction estimates based upon geometry diversity

In this letter, a new wind-vector algorithm is presented that uses radar backscatter sigma(0) measurements at two adjacent subscenes of RADARSAT-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, with each subscene having slightly different geometry. Resultant wind vectors are validated using in situ buoy measurements and compared with wind vectors determined from a hybrid wind-retrieval model using wind directions determined by spectral analysis of wind-induced image streaks and observed by colocated QuikSCAT measurements. The hybrid wind-retrieval model consists of CMOD-IFR2 [applicable to C-band vertical-vertical (W) polarization] and a C-band copolarization ratio according to Kirchhoff scattering. The new algorithm displays improved skill in wind-vector estimation for RADARSAT-1 SAR data when compared to conventional wind-retrieval methodology. In addition, unlike conventional methods, the present method is applicable to RADARSAT-1 images both with and without visible streaks. However, this method requires ancillary data such as buoy measurements to resolve the ambiguity in retrieved wind direction.

合成孔径雷达提取海面风、浪信息研究

传统海洋测量方法例如岸基观测站、船只和浮标等方式只能对海面进行单点观测，存在很多不足之处：观测点少，只能获得有限的点的资料，无法得到大范围的海面信息；费用较高，无法大范围的密集观测；传统方法受天气影响较大，无法长时间的连续观测；星载合成孔径雷达能全天候、全天时、高分辨率对海面成像，能实现多波段、多极化、多视角得观测海面，提供大范围、高精度的实时动态海面信息。同时，这种全天候、全天时和高分辨率观测海洋的优势是可见光和红外传感器所没有的。总之研究如何从SAR影像中有效地获取海面信息具有重要的科学和实用意义。 自从1978年Seasat卫星发射以来SAR图像就广泛的应用于海洋要素的反演如海面风场、波高、平均周期。其中对海面风场的反演研究的最多，一般的方法是首先对SAR图像进行快速傅立叶变换得到SAR图像谱，通过图像谱的峰值信息能够得到具有180°模糊的风向，利用SAR图像的条纹或者浮标等外部信息来消除180°模糊确定风向，其次把风向和图像的正交后向散射截面数值(NRCS)带入经验函数CMOD4通过迭代计算得到风速。这种方法得到的海面风场需要外部信息的辅助，不利于大范围的业务化的反演海面风场。因此本文试图直接通过SAR图像来反演海面风场而不利用其他外部信息的帮助。2002年3月1日发射的ENVISAT卫星所获得的ASAR图像具有不同于ERS系列的SAR图像的新特点：不同入射角的情况下获得ASAR图片、双极化数据以及可以获得更宽的带幅的图像。双极化数据可以同时地提供同极化和交错极化的影像，两种极化的数据能够增加分辨目标的能力和提供目标更多的信息，这方面的优势也使得利用双极化的数据来消除SAR图像反演风场中的180º模糊问题提供了可能。本文推导了利用双极化的ASAR图像反演海面风场的新函数，该函数是在同极化和交错极化函数的基础上推导出来的，有效的消除了只用一副ASAR图片反演风场所固有的180º模糊现象。风速和风向的反演结果与Quikscat数据之间的均方根误差分别为0.53 m/s和2.21º。该方法与传统方法的比较可以看出新方法与浮标数据以及Quikscat数据符合的更好。 利用SAR图像来反演海浪的波高也是一个研究的比较多的领域。比较传统的方法是由SAR图像得到的海浪谱计算出波高，目前国际上比较流行的SAR图像反演海浪谱的模式有两种：一种是Hasselmann（1991）提出的在Max－Planck Institute（MPI）发展起来的方法，Hasselmann（1996）进行了改进和完善。另一种是Mastenbroek和de Valk（2000）提出的半参数化反演方法。这两种方法的最主要的缺点就是需要引进外部信息(WAM模式结果或者散射计的风的信息)来消除图像所固有的180°方向模糊问题。而本文应用的经验函数方法(CWAVE)不需要引进任何外部信息而直接得到海浪的重要参数－有效波高(Hs)，输入该经验函数的参数主要有：波模式图像的雷达截面、图像方差以及由SAR谱得到的20个参数。这些参数的选择是通过逐步回归方法进行筛选的。CWAVE经验函数的系数是通过6000幅全球分布的ERS-2波模式的图像谱拟合同时同地点的WAM模式结果得到的。利用CWAVE经验函数反演了1998年9月到2000年11月两年多的全球接近一百万的ERS-2 SAR图像的有效波高，利用NOAA浮标数据对反演结果进行了验证，他们之间的相关系数为0.83, 均方根误差为0.61m，偏差为0.02 m；反演结果也与欧洲中长期预报中心(ECMWF)的ERA-40有效波高资料和高度计资料进行了比较，结果表明该方法是通过SAR图像反演Hs的一种有效方法。 SAR的反演结果也应用于有效波高的非线性统计分布的研究。结合动力学和随机统计学原理推导了海面高度、波高和有效波高的非线性统计分布，同时利用了NOAA浮标数据、华师大的波高数据以及SAR的有效波高数据分别对推导出的非线性统计分布函数进行了检验。 SAR的结果也用来反演新的风浪成长关系： ，与已有的风浪成长关系的比较表明该成长关系与已有的结果比较一致。

干涉合成孔径雷达海浪遥感理论与应用研究

干涉合成孔径雷达 (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar，InSAR) 是以合成孔径雷达复数据提取的相位为信息源获取地表三维信息和海表散射体运动信息的新型微波成像雷达。 InSAR通过两幅天线同时观测 (单轨模式)，或两次近平行的观测 (重复轨道模式)，获取地面或海面同一景观的复图像对。20世纪90年代以来，InSAR陆地和海洋研究成为微波遥感的热点，广泛应用于地表变形监测、南极冰流测量、地面或海面慢速运动目标检测等领域。 近年来，国际上逐渐应用机载顺轨或交轨干涉合成孔径雷达进行海表面流速测量以及海面波成像机制研究。相对于传统单天线合成孔径雷达 (Synthetic Aperture Radar, SAR)，双天线干涉合成孔径雷达 (InSAR) 测量海表面波有着独特的优势： (1) InSAR复图像的相位近似正比于海面散射体的径向速度，这种内在的成像机制提供了直接测量海表面动态运动的机会。 (2) 真实孔径雷达调制传递函数几乎对InSAR相位图像没有影响，而对传统SAR图像影响较大。 基于干涉合成孔径雷达测量海浪的优势，本文做了一些干涉合成孔径雷达海浪遥感理论与应用研究工作，主要内容大致可归纳如下： (1)基于新建立的顺轨干涉合成孔径雷达 (Along-Track Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar，ATI-SAR) 相位谱与海浪谱之间的非线性映射关系，通过数值模拟研究了不同雷达参数和海况参数对应的ATI-SAR相位谱。数值模拟结果表明：距离速度比率、雷达入射角、天线间距和有效波高和波长比率是影响ATI-SAR海浪成像的重要因素。进一步，利用机载X波段水平极化相位图像和机载C波段水平极化相位图像谱结合方向波骑士浮标测量的海浪方向谱验证了ATI-SAR相位谱与海浪谱之间的非线性映射关系。结果显示用前向映射关系计算的相位谱与实际观测的相位谱较为一致，二者相关系数总体大于0.6，而且对成像非线性不敏感. (2)建立了包含海表面高度和速度聚束的交轨干涉合成孔径雷达 (Across-Track Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar，XTI-SAR) 涌浪干涉相位模型，得到了涌浪成像的解析表达式，进一步研究了XTI-SAR沿方位向传播的涌浪成像机制。定义二次谐波振幅与基波振幅比率来表征成像非线性，通过比较XTI-SAR和ATI-SAR相位的二阶调和分量，分析不同海况和干涉SAR参数情况下的数值模拟，结果表明：当速度聚束弱时，XTI-SAR相位比ATI-SAR相位具有较强的非线性，ATI-SAR比XTI-SAR更适合测量海浪。当速度聚束强时，XTI-SAR相位比ATI-SAR相位具有较弱的非线性，XTI-SAR比ATI-SAR更适合测量海浪。 (3)基于包含海表面高度和速度聚束的交轨干涉合成孔径雷达 (XTI-SAR) 涌浪干涉相位模型，结合多维高斯变量的特征函数方法建立了新的XTI-SAR相位谱与海浪谱非线性积分变换。新积分变换不同于Bao (1999) 建立的积分变换，两者形式上区别在于新积分变换中包含了长波径向轨道速度一阶倒数项。数值模拟显示：通常情况下，长波径向轨道速度一阶倒数项不能忽略。进一步，我们针对不同雷达参数和海况结合新非线积分变换对XTI-SAR海浪成像进行了数值模拟，结果表明：同顺轨干涉合成孔径雷达 (ATI-SAR) 海浪成像一致，距离速度比率 和有效波高与波长比率 是影响XTI-SAR海浪成像的重要因子。 (4)基于新的ATI-SAR相位谱与海浪谱之间的非线性映射关系，发展了利用ATI-SAR相位图像反演海浪方向谱的参数化反演模式，并由此得到海浪波长、波向和有效波高。反演结果与现场浮标观测结果比较一致。相对于其它反演模式，参数化反演模式的优点在于：(1) 不需要任何附加信息如初猜海浪谱、散射计提供的风速风向等信息。 (2) 不需要对相位图像进行辐射定标，可以由反演的海浪谱直接计算有效波高。(3) 反演结束后还可以得到成像区域的局地风速信息。因此，参数化反演模式可以实现风、浪信息的联合反演。

波浪破碎散射模式的研究及应用

海面反射、散射或自发辐射的各个波段的电磁波携带着海表面温度、海平面高度、海表面粗糙度以及海水所含各种物质浓度的信息。波浪破碎是海洋的一种重要现象，波浪破碎支撑着海－气之间的热通量和气体通量的交换，这些通量对于天气和气候都有深远影响。同时，波浪破碎使得海表的粗糙度增加，这对于海表散射电磁波有极大的影响，因此在处理雷达散射问题时，考虑波浪破碎的影响十分必要。 本文分析了雷达散射的两种模式，并阐述了波浪破碎在海表电磁波散射过程中的重要性。论文的创新点在于利用Kudryavtsev03模式，反演得到了波浪破碎率与风速的两种新关系式，同时得到了较高精度的风速反演的隐含模式。针对波浪破碎微波散射模式问题，论文主要研究结果如下： 1.在Kudryavtsev03模式的基础上，以黄兴忠的白冠覆盖率公式替代破碎率，利用ERS-1散射计数据，对Bragg散射模式和Kudryavtsev03模式的结果进行了比较。结果表明：在相同条件下，考虑波浪破碎的Kudryavtsev03模式明显优于纯Bragg散射模式。 2 对Kudryavtsev03模式进行了修正。通过与实测ERS-1散射计数据比较，表明修正后，入射角在18-35°范围内，模式的结果具有较高的精度。 3 利用修正后的模式及散射计数据，在入射角为30-35°范围内，反演破碎率，并对反演结果进行了拟合，得到了两个新的破碎率与风速的关系式。 4 利用修正后的模式及新的破碎率公式，在入射角为30-35°范围内，反演风速，具有较高精度。 5 利用反演的风速，根据经验关系式，推算了各种海洋物理量。