Polarization Effect on Multipath for Extended Targets

The results of a theoretical investigation of the influence of polarization on multipath are presented. First, the case of a point target is examined and it is confirmed that the multipath effect tends to vanish for rough sea and small grazing angles. Models of a buoy and of a large ship are then introduced and it is shown that, for targets that are extended in height, the multipath effect for vertical and horizontal polarization is substantially the same.