Ocean surface imaging with a focused phased array imaging radar

FOPAIR is a FOcused Phased Array Imaging Radar developed for fine-scale ocean surface measurement applications. It is a coherent X-band radar that provides high-resolution, high-speed imagery of a fixed footprint on the ocean surface. This paper briefly describes the instrument and presents sample imagery from an engineering test conducted at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in July 1993. The radar successfully imaged waves and localized transient features on the surface including those apparently due to interfering wave groups.<>