REMOTE DETERMINATIONS OF SEA SURFACE LEVEL Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC G01S13/95 

FIELD: instrumentation.

SUBSTANCE: radar is arranged at spacecraft to generate short constant-duration radio pulses for irradiation of sea surface to nadir and recording of reflected radio pulse. Reflected radio pulse leading front inclination is used to define the significant height of waves and distance from radiation source to undisturbed sea surface level. Additionally, sea surface is probed at incidence angle other than zero to record the reflected signal and to define the surface wind. Wave model is applied to define dominant wave length and velocity. Defined are asymmetry and excess distribution of sea surface elevation. Wave height, asymmetry and excess allowed for, said distance from radiation source to undisturbed sea surface level is corrected.

EFFECT: higher accuracy due to enlarged number of controlled parameters.

1 cl, 1 dwg