Multi-band scattering analysis of offshore wind turbines using dualpolarized SAR measurements

Abstract:
This study investigates the scattering properties of wind turbines, utilizing synthetic aperture radar datasets collected by ALOS PALSAR-2, RADARSAT-2, and PAZ satellite missions. The radar imagery spans L-, C- and X-band frequencies keeping almost the same incidence angle and pixel spacing. Focused on the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm in Solway Firth, UK, the analysis deals with assessing backscattering properties through multi-polarization, i. e., co- and crosspolarized, normalized radar cross-sections and reflection symmetry. The study evaluates the features of the turbines in relation to a target-free surrounding sea surface. The experimental results indicate that the incident wavelength and the relative orientationsignificantly impacts the detectability of wind turbines. Additionally, reflection symmetry is identified as a reliable and effective parameter for characterizing wind turbines backscattering. The results also suggest that increasing (decreasing) the incident wavelength increases (reduces) the co-polarized backscattering and the co-/cross-polarized correlation of wind turbines.