A NEW MODEL FOR SEA CLUTTER

First-order (small roughness amplitude) scattering theory is applied to obtain sea clutter cross sections in terms of mean - squared height spectrum of the sea surface. The results are in remarkably good agreement with observations for vertical polarization at P-, L-, C -, and X-bands. Modification of the calculation to take into account the larger scale structure of the sea surface yields reasonable agreement for horizontal polarization at p and L-bands but is less successful for the cross-polarized and horizontal cross sections at C and X-bands. Copyright © 1968 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.