The topic of backscatter amplification (BA) or enhanced backscattering from random media has generated considerable research interest over the last two decades in Eastern Europe and the last decade in the West. Two distinct scattering phenomena, unique to scattering by random media, are capable of producing backscatter amplification: spatially coherent reciprocal path scattering (RPS) and spatially incoherent random focusing (IRF) events. When coherent RPS is responsible for BA, the maximum backscatter amplification factor is two, but when IRF occurs the backscatter amplification factor may substantially exceed two. This analysis is concerned with backscatter amplification that is produced entirely by coherent RPS.; Several theoretical models exist for BA from random rough surfaces and BA by atmospheric turbulence individually; however, no theoretical model exists for the BA due to the combination of atmospheric turbulence and a rough surface target. A tractable, heuristic model is presented that describes the combined effect of atmospheric turbulence and rough surface RPS processes.
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