Wave Height Estimation Based on the Phase Time Series of Millimeter-Wave Radar

Estimating ocean wave height is vital for coastal activities. Herein, we propose a method for the estimation of wave height using a phase time series of the frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) millimeter-wave (MMW) radar. We simulated a one-dimensional wavy ocean surface under different wind speeds and the electromagnetic echo of MMW radar on the ocean surface. The simulation results show that the unwrapping phase time series-based wave heights are highly consistent with the actual wave heights. This shows that the phase time series of the FMCW MMW radar is effective for estimating wave height, and the FMCW MMW radar can be used to monitor ocean states.