Multiple scattering of HF radio waves propagating across the sea surface

A problem that is of considerable importance to the HF communications and radar communities is the calculation of the spatio-temporal modulations imposed on a radio wave as a result of propagating across a rough sea surface. We derive equations, in the form of a multiple-scattering series, describing the spatio-temporal structure of a radio wave at a point on the rough sea surface after propagation from an antenna at another point on the surface. We present calculations illustrating the sensitivity of the resultant Doppler spectra to ocean surface conditions, as described by well known parametric models. The generality of the approach means that it can easily accommodate user-specified antenna patterns, arbitrary coastline geometries, arbitrary sea-wave spectrum models, wave-field inhomogeneity and a wide range of seawater conductivities.