Abstract:
In this study, we model electromagnetic (EM) scattering from a realistic ocean surface to assess through simulation the effect of varying key slick properties on backscat...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
In this study, we model electromagnetic (EM) scattering from a realistic ocean surface to assess through simulation the effect of varying key slick properties on backscatter at microwave frequencies of L-, C-, and X-bands for both thin and emulsified mineral oil. An ocean surface model is implemented by generating randomly rough ocean surface instances from ocean wave spectra corresponding to a variety of slick properties and different wind speeds. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) method, based on Maxwell’s equations, is used to calculate the normalized radar cross section (NRCS) from the ocean surfaces, which we validate with radar observations. Results show that the effect on the NRCS does not scale linearly with the spectral damping caused by the oil layer. By changing various layer properties, we determine that the surface elasticity and oil kinematic viscosity most strongly impact the NRCS. The model is run with different oil layer thicknesses to evaluate the capability of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to determine absolute or relative slick thickness. We find that the thickness cannot be accurately determined from SAR backscatter alone in the absence of information about the key slick properties or calibration against known thicknesses in the given environmental conditions. The simulations indicate that ocean wave spectral components outside the expected Bragg scattering regime contribute significantly to the backscatter in some cases; furthermore, the presence of an emulsion layer under certain conditions and for certain radar frequencies creates constructive interference that causes the NRCS to be enhanced rather than reduced when the layer thickness increases.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing ( Volume: 61)
Funding Agency:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Sermsak Jaruwatanadilok received the B.E. degree in telecommunication engineering from the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, Thailand, in 1994, the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, in 1997, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA, in 2003.
From 2006 to 2010, he was a Research Assistant Profes...Show More
Sermsak Jaruwatanadilok received the B.E. degree in telecommunication engineering from the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, Thailand, in 1994, the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, in 1997, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA, in 2003.
From 2006 to 2010, he was a Research Assistant Profes...View more
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Xueyang Duan (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.Eng. degree in communication engineering from Shandong University, Jinan, China, in 2004, the M.S. degree in microelectronics, communications technology from the University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany, in 2006, the M.S. degree in applied mathematics, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the Radiation Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbo...Show More
Xueyang Duan (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.Eng. degree in communication engineering from Shandong University, Jinan, China, in 2004, the M.S. degree in microelectronics, communications technology from the University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany, in 2006, the M.S. degree in applied mathematics, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the Radiation Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbo...View more
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Benjamin Holt (Member, IEEE) received the B.A. degree in human biology from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, in 1972, and the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, in 1988.
Since 1978, he is a Research Scientist with the Ocean Circulation Group within the Earth Science Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA...Show More
Benjamin Holt (Member, IEEE) received the B.A. degree in human biology from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, in 1972, and the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, in 1988.
Since 1978, he is a Research Scientist with the Ocean Circulation Group within the Earth Science Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA...View more
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Cathleen E. Jones (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in physics from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, in 1982, and the Ph.D. degree in physics from California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA, in 1991.
She is a Senior Research Scientist with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Her main research is focused on the development of methods for determining oil sli...Show More
Cathleen E. Jones (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in physics from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, in 1982, and the Ph.D. degree in physics from California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA, in 1991.
She is a Senior Research Scientist with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Her main research is focused on the development of methods for determining oil sli...View more
Contents Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Sermsak Jaruwatanadilok received the B.E. degree in telecommunication engineering from the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, Thailand, in 1994, the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, in 1997, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA, in 2003.
From 2006 to 2010, he was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. He is currently a signal analysis engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. His research interests are electromagnetic wave propagation in random and complex media and remote sensing.
Sermsak Jaruwatanadilok received the B.E. degree in telecommunication engineering from the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, Thailand, in 1994, the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, in 1997, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA, in 2003.
From 2006 to 2010, he was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. He is currently a signal analysis engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. His research interests are electromagnetic wave propagation in random and complex media and remote sensing.View more
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Xueyang Duan (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.Eng. degree in communication engineering from Shandong University, Jinan, China, in 2004, the M.S. degree in microelectronics, communications technology from the University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany, in 2006, the M.S. degree in applied mathematics, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the Radiation Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, in 2010 and 2012, respectively.
From 2006 to 2007, she was with the Test and Measurement Division, Rohde and Schwarz, Munich, Germany, as a Development Engineer. She spent two years as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate with the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, before she joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA in 2014, as a Systems Engineer working on the UAVSAR, the AirMOSS, and the AIRSAR-NG projects, as well as the Europa Clipper mission. Her research interests include forward and inverse modeling of electromagnetic scattering from layered rough surfaces with or without buried objects, radar system design, and radar measurements of vegetation and ground variables.
Xueyang Duan (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.Eng. degree in communication engineering from Shandong University, Jinan, China, in 2004, the M.S. degree in microelectronics, communications technology from the University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany, in 2006, the M.S. degree in applied mathematics, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the Radiation Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, in 2010 and 2012, respectively.
From 2006 to 2007, she was with the Test and Measurement Division, Rohde and Schwarz, Munich, Germany, as a Development Engineer. She spent two years as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate with the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, before she joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA in 2014, as a Systems Engineer working on the UAVSAR, the AirMOSS, and the AIRSAR-NG projects, as well as the Europa Clipper mission. Her research interests include forward and inverse modeling of electromagnetic scattering from layered rough surfaces with or without buried objects, radar system design, and radar measurements of vegetation and ground variables.View more
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Benjamin Holt (Member, IEEE) received the B.A. degree in human biology from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, in 1972, and the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, in 1988.
Since 1978, he is a Research Scientist with the Ocean Circulation Group within the Earth Science Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. His research interests include using multisensor remote sensing data to examine the geophysical state of polar sea ice and snow, coastal oceanography and circulation, and the detection of marine pollutants. He is currently a member of the NISAR Science Team.
Benjamin Holt (Member, IEEE) received the B.A. degree in human biology from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA, in 1972, and the M.S. degree in physical oceanography from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, in 1988.
Since 1978, he is a Research Scientist with the Ocean Circulation Group within the Earth Science Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. His research interests include using multisensor remote sensing data to examine the geophysical state of polar sea ice and snow, coastal oceanography and circulation, and the detection of marine pollutants. He is currently a member of the NISAR Science Team.View more
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Cathleen E. Jones (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in physics from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, in 1982, and the Ph.D. degree in physics from California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA, in 1991.
She is a Senior Research Scientist with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Her main research is focused on the development of methods for determining oil slick characteristics, monitoring subsidence and critical infrastructure, and understanding land building/loss in deltas. She is the Applications Co-Lead of the NASA NISAR Science Team.
Cathleen E. Jones (Member, IEEE) received the B.S. degree in physics from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, in 1982, and the Ph.D. degree in physics from California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA, in 1991.
She is a Senior Research Scientist with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. Her main research is focused on the development of methods for determining oil slick characteristics, monitoring subsidence and critical infrastructure, and understanding land building/loss in deltas. She is the Applications Co-Lead of the NASA NISAR Science Team.View more
