Ocean wave imaging mechanism by imaging radar

Analytical representations of the high frequency spectra of ocean wave and its variation due to the variation of ocean surface current are derived fro m the wave-number spectrum balance equation. The ocean surface imaging form ulation of real aperture radar (RAR) is given using electromagnetic wave ba ckscattering theory of ocean surface and the modulations of ocean surface w inds, currents and their variations to RAR are described. A general represe ntation of the phase modulation induced by the ocean surface motion is deri ved according to standard synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging theory. Th e detectability of ocean current and sea bottom topography by imaging radar is discussed. The results constitute the theoretical basis for detecting o cean wave fields, ocean surface winds, ocean surface current fields, sea bo ttom topography, internal wave and so on.