Dominant wave directions observed in synthetic aperture radar imagery of the ocean

Shows that apparent dominant wave directions in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery of the ocean can differ from true wave directions by as much as 40 degrees in certain conditions and can be rotated into either the range or azimuthal directions. The author simulates SAR spectra observed during the SAXON-FPN experiment for a variety of wave propagation directions using quasi-linear theory and directional wave spectra measured with a buoy during the experiment. In most cases the observed directions can be fitted very closely by simulations using parameters which differ only slightly from those measured on Forschungsplattform NORDSEE during SAXON-FPN. An exception to this rule is the phase of the hydrodynamic modulation transfer function.