Retrieval of Sea Surface Currents and Directional Wave Spectra by 24 GHz FMCW MIMO Radar

This article investigates the capabilities of 24 GHz frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radar technology to retrieve sea surface currents and directional wave spectra. A procedure based on the dispersion relation, which was previously applied to process X-band marine radar data, is here exploited. The estimation performance of the radar sensor is first assessed by numerical tests in the case of synthetic sea wave fields with known characteristics in terms of wave direction and surface currents. Finally, the estimation procedure is assessed on real data collected at San Vincenzo quay in the port area of Naples, Italy. The achieved results are encouraging and highlight that 24 GHz FMCW MIMO radar is a viable technology for sea wave monitoring.