Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 November 2009
Radar operating in the dekametric or high frequency band permits the measurement of sea-surface parameters at very much longer ranges than is possible with other techniques: 0–200 km is practical using a coast-located radar and oversea propagation, while 1000–3000 km is achievable using ionospheric reflection from a radar which may be located inland. The paper, which was presented at Oceanology International 1982 at Brighton, discusses the extraction and mapping of wave height, wave period, non-directional spectrum and surface wind parameters from Doppler radar echoes. The techniques are illustrated by the results of the UK ground-wave and sky-wave measurements and computer simulation.