Refractivity‐From‐Clutter Capable, Software‐Defined, Coherent‐on‐Receive Marine Radar

Abstract

Refractivity‐from‐clutter (RFC) is a technique for remote sensing of the lowest portion of vertical atmospheric refractivity profile, particularly evaporation and surface‐based ducts. It uses the sea‐surface backscattered radar signal to estimate the ducting conditions. The Lower Atmospheric Propagation (LATPROP) radar is a software‐defined, coherent‐on‐receive remote sensing system built on a low‐cost, commercial off‐the‐shelf marine radar platform operating at 9.41 GHz. The system is designed to specifically operate as a RFC‐capable platform sensitive to low clutter power returns from the sea surface. This paper examines the appropriate radar design, system modifications, and radar signal processing steps, and provides a comparison with existing RFC‐capable systems. The LATPROP system was deployed during the Coupled Air‐Sea Processes and electromagnetic Ducting Research West Campaign that took place off of the coast of Southern California during October 2017 and was shown to accurately capture the effects of the ducting conditions.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2021
Source ID
10.1029/2020rs007173

Entities

People

  • Caglar Yardim
  • Joshua Compaleo
  • Luyao Xu

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School
  • Office of Naval Research
  • Office of Naval Research Global
  • Ohio State University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Nanofabrication and Microfabrication.
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Radar Systems Engineering.