Scattering cross sections for non-Gaussian rough surfaces: unified full wave approach

The unified wave approach is used to compute both the like- and the cross-polarized scattering cross sections for composite rough surfaces characterized by a family of gamma functions of order K ranging from K=1 to K=25. This family of joint height probability density functions properly decorrelates to the product of the marginals as the surface height autocorrelation function vanishes. These results are compared with the like and cross-polarized cross sections for the surface with Gaussian characteristics (K to infinity ). It is shown how radar could be used most effectively to remotely sense the rough surface statistics of non-Gaussian rough surfaces.<>