Spaced Antenna analysis of atmospheric radar backscatter model data

D. A. Holdsworth and I. M. Reid

Abstract

A simple computer model of atmospheric radar backscatter is used to investigate and compare various Spaced Antenna (SA) analysis techniques. These techniques include the Full Correlation Analysis (FCA) and radar Interferometry techniques. The results illustrate that the interferometric velocities increase with increasing turbulence, predicting the model input velocity only for zero turbulence. On the other hand, the FCA True velocity proves to be an excellent estimate of the model input velocity at all values of turbulence. Maps illustrating the interferometry estimated scattering positions superimposed upon the actual model scatterer positions reveal the estimated positions to be inaccurate. The estimated positions are shown to approach the zenith as turbulence increases, confirming the volume scatter derived suggestions of Briggs, 1994. Furthermore, the estimated positions have a preferred azimuth angle agreeing with that predicted by volume scatter arguments. The effects of receiver noise upon the interferometric techniques are investigated, revealing the estimated velocity decreases with increasing receiver noise. The effects of the thresholds used to preclude individual Doppler frequencies from the analyses are illustrated. The results are in excellent agreement with the experimental results obtained in a number of different studies.

Status

This paper has been published in Radio Science, 30(5), 1417-1433, 1995

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