Microwave and optical combined studies of the sea surface in shallow areas

This paper is devoted to the field experimental studies of microwave self-emission and backscatter of the sea surface in shallow areas (the First Kurilsky Straight, Pacific Ocean). Among the features of this area are the surface wave refraction and the intensive wave breaking in the underwater reef region. The microwave measurements were conducted with the microwave radiometer-scatterometer, installed on an aircraft. The radio brightness temperature and backscattering measurements were accompanied by the airborne photography with high spatial resolution. The spatial wave spectra transformation along the flight pass were studied depending on the sea depth, and associated spectral patterns were established. It is shown that there is an intensive increase of radio brightness temperature in the wave breaking area along with some reduction of the backscattered signal