Physical mechanisms of the radar imaging of the ocean surface are reviewed. The resonant and nonresonant mechanisms of microwave radiation scattering from the ocean surface are considered, analyzed, and compared based on 20 years of the authors’ own theoretical and experimental work, and publications by other research teams. The experimental facts that cannot be explained by resonant scattering models are analyzed in detail, and in this connection the significant contribution of mesoscale breaking waves to scattering at grazing angles is justified. The characteristic features and most probable mechanisms of radar imaging of various mesoscale phenomena deep in the ocean and in the atmosphere are considered.

PACS: 84.40.Ba, 92.10.Hm, 93.85.+q (all) DOI: 10.1070/PU2003v046n01ABEH001114 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2003/1/d/ 000183153400004 Citation: Bulatov M G, Kravtsov Yu A, Lavrova O Yu, Litovchenko K T, Mityagina M I, Raev M D, Sabinin K D, Trokhimovskii Yu G, Churyumov A N, Shugan I V "Physical mechanisms of aerospace radar imaging of the ocean" Phys. Usp. 46 63–79 (2003) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Булатов М Г, Кравцов Ю А, Лаврова О Ю, Литовченко К Ц, Митягина М И, Раев М Д, Сабинин К Д, Трохимовский Ю Г, Чурюмов А Н, Шуган И В «Физические механизмы формирования аэрокосмических радиолокационных изображений океана» УФН 173 69–87 (2003); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0173.200301d.0069