Impact of a New Formula on the Fresnel Reflectance on Microwave Remote Sensing

In microwave remote sensing, the Fresnel reflectance formula is widely used in the sea surface emissivity modeling. As an essential contribution to microwave remote sensing, a new formula on the Fresnel reflectance has been derived based on our understanding of the complex index of refraction and continuity condition of E-M waves at the interface between two mediums. The proposed formula can be used to obtain the emissivity of sea surface, which is useful to retrieve sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity and the brightness temperature. Considering Bragg-resonant scatter, it is useful for the calculation of the normalized radar cross-section, and the retrieval of sea surface wind either.