Fractal properties of the sea surface manifested in microwave remote sensing signaturesThe wave spectrum of a well developed sea is discussed. It includes a broad range of wavenumbers where the spectral density is governed by a power law of the form k sup-p. When p is less than or = 4, the surface exhibits properties, such as an increased surface number density of steep and breaking wavelet events and an increased number of specular points for vertical incidence, due to the cascade (fractal) pattern in its geometry. These properties manifest themselves in error trends in wind speed measurements by scatterometer and altimeter.
Glazman, R. E. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: ESA, Proceedings of the 1988 International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) '88 on Remote Sensing: Moving Towards the 21st Century, Volume 3