Statistical model for spiky clutter using dominant scatterer number fluctuations

The concept of a fluctuating number of scatterers is used to derive a family of multiparameter clutter probability density functions (PDFs). The simplest nontrivial case describes a Gaussian background plus a fluctuating number of dominant scatterers, each having a Rayleigh distributed amplitude. The derived clutter radar cross section (RCS) describe the bimodal or spiky behavior of certain types of clutter, such as high-resolution and low-grazing-angle sea clutter. It is shown that significant deviations from the exponential PDF are obtained only when the average number of the dominant scatterers is small