STATISTICAL FORMULATION FOR AN INHOMOGENEOUS RANDOM WATER-SURFACE - ABASIS FOR OPTICAL REMOTE-SENSING OF OCEANS

A statistical formulation for a stationary ocean surface has been full y developed in the angular spectral domain. The angular spectral formu lation can be found in the theory of radiometry and optical coherence. The present theory is a rigorous generalization of the conventional f ramework of ocean-wave statistics, which represent the surface displac ement in two-dimensional wave-number space. The present theory is appl icable to an inhomogeneous (spatially nonstationary) surface as well a s a homogeneous surface. A number of formulas for the statistical func tions, such as the cross spectrum, the correlation function for the su rface displacement, and the correlation function for the surface slope s, have been derived in connection with the spectrum that characterize s the ocean surface. By taking an adequate spectral model for the surf ace wave and using the present formalism, it is possible to treat stat istically the light emitted from and scattered by the ocean surface, w hich is characterized by its spectrum. Optical statistical understandi ng of random ocean surface is essential for optical remote sensing of water and oceans.