Numerical simulations of scattering from time-varying, randomly rough surfaces

Recent years have seen the development of robust and efficient numerical techniques for exact calculations of rough surface scattering. We discuss how such methods, typically formulated for time-independent surfaces, can be extended to calculate scattering from time-evolving ocean-like surfaces. Estimates are provided for the choice of parameters in such time-varying simulations. The method of ordered multiple interactions (MOMI) is used to calculate time-varying scattering from surfaces generated according to linear and nonlinear (Creamer) models for incidence angles ranging from normal to low grazing. We discuss the runtime considerations and demonstrate that combining the MOMI with a fast multipole method (FMM)-type acceleration technique makes large-scale time-varying Monte Carlo simulations possible. The average Doppler spectra of backscattered signals obtained from such simulations are compared for different incident angles, polarizations, and surface models. In particular, the simulations show a broadening of the Doppler spectra for nonlinear surfaces, especially at low grazing angles (LGA) and a separation of the vertical and horizontal polarization spectra at LGA for nonlinear surfaces. This spectral separation at LGA is not observed when the linear surfaces are used.