STUDY OF THE GULF-STREAM FRONTAL ZONE USING THE ALMAZ-1 SAR AND SHIP CONTACT MEASUREMENTS

The results of joint analysis of data acquired quasi-synchronously in the Gulf Stream frontal zone by the Almaz-1 synthetic aperture radar ( SAR) and the RV Akademik Vernadsltii (contact measurements) are presen ted. It is shown that the dark lined structures visible on the SAR ima ges are the radar images of zones of converging currents, in which sur face-active matter accumulates, smothering centimetre ripple. For a cu rrent flowing in the same direction as the wave propagation, the study detected the effects of refraction and reflection of surface waves, l eading to the formation of areas with a concentration of waves on tile boundaries of the current and an area of wave 'shadow'.