Scattering of HF Radio Waves from the Sea: A Review of the Theory Based upon a Simplified Model

Abstract

A simplified, physically intuitive model of diffuse scattering of radio waves from a rough surface is used to present a self-contained derivation of first- and second-order cross sections, essentially in agreement with the standard expressions. Incoherent addition of the second-order contributions (electromagnetic and hydrodynamic) leads to a cross section which is slightly different from the more rigorously derived cross sections of Barrick (1972b) and Johnstone (1975). A surface current v has been incorporated in this model, with the main change to the cross section being a frequency shift of the entire spectrum by an amount Llw = -2ko . v.