Wave spectra from sun glint patterns

Josue Alvarez-Borrego

doi:10.1117/12.138848

22 December 1992 Wave spectra from sun glint patterns

Josue Alvarez-Borrego

Proceedings Volume 1749, Optics of the Air-Sea Interface: Theory and Measurement; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.138848
Event: San Diego '92, 1992, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The problem of retrieving spatial information of the sea surface heights from aerial images is considered. We proceed, for simplicity, by considering a one-dimensional model of the problem. With some simplifying assumptions, we derive some analytical and numerical results that relate the autocorrelation of the surface heights and those of the sunglint patterns. We assume that the surfaces are such that they constitute approximations to Gaussian random processes. We also assume that the surfaces are illuminated by a source (the sun) of a fixed angular extent and imaged through a lens that subtends a very small solid angle. With these assumptions, we calculate their images, as they would be formed by a signal clipping detector. In order to do this, we define a `glitter function,' which operates on the slope of the surfaces. To test our predictions we have conducted a Monte Carlo type simulation. Random surfaces with two different power spectra have been generated in a computer. We find that under favorable conditions, it is possible to invert the relation numerically and estimate the surface height autocorrelation from the sunglint data. We obtain the wave spectra from the surface height autocorrelation via a Fourier transform.

Citation Download Citation

Josue Alvarez-Borrego "Wave spectra from sun glint patterns", Proc. SPIE 1749, Optics of the Air-Sea Interface: Theory and Measurement, (22 December 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.138848

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