EFFECT OF POLARIZATION ON THE MARINE RADAR DETECTION OF ICEBERGS.

Ships and drilling platforms operating in Canadian waters need reliable radar detection of icebergs and other ice targets floating in open water. A field trip made in September 1984 to record the surface-based radar returns of icebergs and iceberg fragments is discussed. Based on results of previous work, emphasis was placed on the polarization properties of the return, in particular, comparing horizontally and vertically polarized returns, as well as cross-polarized components. Physical measurements of the iceberg targets, sea surface, and meteorological conditions were taken. Results are presented as histograms of the normalized radar cross-section for both like- and cross-polarized returns for a number of ice targets. The effect of the various polarizations is discussed and some preliminary conclusions drawn.