Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Synthetic Aperture Observations of Directional Height Spectra for 7 s Ocean Waves

Nature Physical Science volume 244, pages 98–100 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

Directional wave-height spectra of 7 s period ocean waves in equilibrium with the wind have been measured using Bragg scattering of LORAN-A transmissions and synthetic aperture techniques. The spectra measured have a resolution of approximately 10° and a dynamic range of at least 25 dB. Observations were carried out over an 8 d period in November 1972, during which sea and wind conditions varied slowly over periods of 24 to 48 h. The ratio of mean-square heights of wave propagating directly downwind to those propagating directly upwind is at least 300:1. The directional spectra were extremely broad, with spectral width between 90° and 180°, and varied with the wind.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Crombie, D. D., Nature, 175, 681 (1955).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Barrick, D. E., in Remote Sensing of the Troposphere (edit, by Derr, V.), chapter 12 (Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Anderson, E. P., thesis, Stanford Univ. (1957).

  4. Steele, S. G., Aust. J. Phys., 18, 317 (1965).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Tveten, L. H., Science, N.Y., 157, 1302 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Crombie, D. D., and Watts, J. M., Deep Sea Res., 15, 81 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Peterson, A. M., Teague, C. C., and Tyler, G. L., Science, N.Y., 170, 158 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Teague, C. C., IEEE Trans. Geosci. Electronic GE-9, 211 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Harger, R. O., Synthetic Aperture Radar Systems: Theory and Design (Academic Press, New York and London, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tyler, G. L., Faulkerson, W. E., Peterson, A. M., and Teague, C. C., Science, N.Y., 177, 349 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Radar Astronomy, Stanford University, California, 94305

    C. C. TEAGUE & G. L. TYLER

  2. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, 92037

    J. W. JOY & R. H. STEWART

Authors
  1. C. C. TEAGUE
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. L. TYLER
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. W. JOY
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. H. STEWART
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

TEAGUE, C., TYLER, G., JOY, J. et al. Synthetic Aperture Observations of Directional Height Spectra for 7 s Ocean Waves. Nature Physical Science 244, 98–100 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci244098a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/physci244098a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing