Effects of non-linear modulation mechanisms on the statistics of micro wave backscatter from the ocean surface

Presents some observations of sea-echo amplitude statistics, which deviate significantly from the Rayleigh distribution. By simulating the backscatter of microwaves from the ocean surface using the Holliday scattering model, the authors show that nonlinear modulation effects caused by the long gravity waves, can explain some of the observations of non-Gaussian statistics that have been observed at higher incidence angles.