Remote sensing of ocean wavenumber spectra using shipboard marine radar

Reports on experimental estimation of directional ocean wave spectra by analysis of sea echo data from a shipboard marine radar. Results for both horizontal and vertical polarizations are presented, and a modulation transfer function approach is tested using data from an unattended offshore platform and a U.S. Navy ship. Vertically polarized data appear to correlate well with the rms wave height, while horizontal follows wind speed.