Backscattering cross section is a property of an object that determines what proportion of incident wave energy is scattered from the object, back in the direction of the incident wave. Definition Physics In physics generally, it is defined as the area which intercepts an amount of power in the incident beam which, if radiated isotropically, would yield a reflected signal strength at the transmitter of the same magnitude as the actual object produces.Stout, G. E., & Mueller, E. A. (1968). Survey of relationships between rainfall rate and radar reflectivity in the measurement of precipitation. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 7(3), 465-474. Underwater acoustics In fisheries acoustics, the same term is used to mean the same area but divided by 4π.Clay, C. S., Medwin, H., & Urick, R. J. (1978). Acoustical oceanography: principles and applications.MacLennan, D. N., Fernandes, P. G., & Dalen, J. (2002). A consistent approach to definitions and symbols in fisheries acoustics. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 59(2), 365-369. In other areas of underwater acoustics, the general physics definition is used.Ainslie, M. A., Halvorsen, M. B., & Robinson, S. P. (2021). A terminology standard for underwater acoustics and the benefits of international standardization. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 47(1), 179-200.
See also Radar cross-section Target strength
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