Measured results are presented of the amplitude and spectral characteristics of the envelopes of vertically and horizontally polarized and cross-polarized 3.2-cm radar backscatter signals from the surface of the sea at grazing angles &psgr;<8¿ with fine range resolution. The features of scattering on vertical polarization are explained completely by the 'two-scale' model. For horizontal polarization, relatively stable backscatter signals, called 'bursts', are observed in addition to the signals scattered by the capillary waves. The results are also used to explain features of the fading spectra of the signals for the different polarizations.