Adapting ocean surface scattering models to accept <i>in-situ</i> environmental data

A renewed examination of the theoretical basis of rough sea surface scattering has unearthed uncertainty over what theoretical approach is best suited for realtime applications, as evaluated in terms of speed, accuracy, and ability to allow greater use of in situ environmental data. The investigation focused primarily on applied models, as related to signal scattering losses and to reverberation modeling. Modeling approaches compared include perturbation theory, the approach by Eckart, and the approaches examined at the University of Washington and the Naval Research Laboratory. Validation by comparisons to data will be cited as available. A design goal of many models is to require only a small number of easily observed environmental parameters, such as wind speed and significant wave height. This presentation explores the insertion of additional inputs that would support predictions more relevant to the specific time and place of the application. These inputs would include measured or simulated surface wave spectrum data and estimates of surface height coherence length.