Clutter simulation in maritime environments

Knowledge of clutter characteristics are an important factor in determining radar system performance, especially for target detection. Clutter may be modelled as a random process, with the clutter characteristics embodied in the statistics of the process. Most modern pulsed-Doppler radars utilize range-Doppler maps in their detection schemes, and so it is crucial to understand the statistical properties of clutter in these maps in order to develop effective target detection algorithms. In this paper, we discuss the simulation of the sea clutter seen on the range-Doppler map or an X-band pulse-Doppler radar operating in a maritime environment. We shall implement the compound K-distribution model for maritime clutter returns and incorporate temporal and spatial correlations in clutter map realizations.