Sea wave spectrum estimation from SAR images: a simulation based approach

The problem of estimating the sea wave spectrum from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is addressed. Inversion methods proposed in the literature are discussed and applied, considering also the possibility of utilizing a realistic SAR ocean simulator for solving the inversion problem. The simulator is based on a physical model of the sea surface and describes the interaction between electromagnetic waves and the sea surface. Indeed, due to the complexity of the phenomena involved in the image formation process, simulation can provide a useful tool for optimizing extraction algorithms