APPLICATION OF TILT MODULATION OF THE SCATTER CROSS-SECTIONS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT NON-GAUSSIAN ROUGH SURFACES - UNIFIED FULL-WAVE APPROACH

The tilt modulations of the like- and cross-polarized cross-sections f or arbitrarily oriented resolution cells are determined using the unif ied full-wave approach. A broad family of non-Gaussian rough surfaces characterized by the gamma surface height probability density function s of order K are considered. Furthermore a Pearson-Moskowitz surface h eight spectral density function is assumed for the sea surface. The su rface height autocorrelation function is also assumed to be non-Gaussi an. An arbitrarily oriented mean plane associated with the resolution cell is characterized by tilt angles in and perpendicular to a fixed r eference plane of incidence. The 'tilt modulation' of the scattering c ross-sections is determined as functions of the wavelength of the inci dent field lambda0 and the backscatter angle theta0i. Each resolution cell represents the real (or synthetic) radar footprint. The size of t he resolution cell, orientation, and the statistical characteristics o f the non-Gaussian surface determine the radar cross-section. Radar re mote sensing options are discussed to distinguish between random rough surfaces characterized by different probability density functions.