Multiresolution optical characteristics of rough sea surface in the infrared

Area of Science:

• Oceanography
• Remote Sensing
• Optical Physics

Background:

• Accurate simulation of sea surface optical properties is crucial for interpreting infrared sensor data.
• Understanding spatial variability of wind-roughened sea surfaces is key for realistic image generation.
• Existing models may not fully capture complex sea surface dynamics across various scales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an analytical model for generating realistic sea surface images as observed by infrared sensors.
• To integrate spatial and submetric variability of wind-roughened sea surfaces.
• To account for different observational configurations, including nadir and grazing angles.

Main Methods:

• A statistical approach was employed to model sea optical properties.
• A two-scale method was applied, superimposing small-scale variability onto larger scales.
• Multiresolution analysis was introduced to accommodate varying sensor fields of view.

Main Results:

• The model successfully generates high-quality synthetic ocean scenes under diverse conditions.
• Theoretical considerations validated the physical basis of the model.
• Good agreement was achieved with available datasets, with a noted bias at grazing angles due to unaddressed multiple reflections.

Conclusions:

• The developed analytical model effectively simulates infrared sea surface imagery.
• The model's statistical and two-scale approach captures essential sea surface variability.
• Further refinement could address biases observed at grazing angles, improving model accuracy.