Investigation on the Utilization of Millimeter-Wave Radars for Ocean Wave Monitoring

The feasibility of using millimeter-wave radars for wave observations was investigated in this study. The radars used in this study operate at a center frequency of 77.572 GHz. To investigate the feasibility of wave observations and extract one-dimensional and two-dimensional wave spectra, arrays consisting of multiple radar units were deployed for observations in both laboratory and field environments. Based on the data measured with the millimeter-wave radars, one-dimensional wave spectra and two-dimensional wave directional spectra were evaluated using the periodogram method and the Bayesian directional spectrum estimation method (BDM), respectively. Meanwhile, wave parameters such as the significant wave height, wave period, and wave direction were also calculated. Via comparative experiments with a capacitive wave height meter in a wave tank and RADAC's WG5-HT-CP radar in an offshore field, the viability of using millimeter-wave radars to observe water waves was validated. The results indicate that the one-dimensional wave spectra measured with the millimeter-wave radars were consistent with those measured with the mature commercial capacitive wave height meter and the WG5-HT-CP wave radar. Via wave direction measurement experiments conducted in a wave tank and offshore environment, it is evident that the wave directions retrieved with the millimeter-wave radars were in good alignment with the actual wave directions.

Automated summary

The feasibility of using millimeter-wave radars for wave observations was investigated in this study. Through observations in laboratory and field environments, one-dimensional and two-dimensional wave spectra were extracted, and important wave parameters were calculated. The results indicate that millimeter-wave radars are capable of observing water waves, with measurement results consistent with existing wave observation devices, and the wave direction measurements closely aligned with the actual wave directions.