Refractivity Inversions From Point‐To‐Point X‐Band Radar Propagation Measurements

Abstract

Dynamic refractive environments within the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) pose difficulties in the prediction of X‐band radar wave propagation due to natural phenomena such as evaporation ducts (ED). This study utilizes a unique data set collected during the Coupled Air‐Sea Processes and Electromagnetic Ducting Research (CASPER)‐East field campaign, including multiple refractivity estimation methods and twelve point‐to‐point (PTP) electromagnetic datasets, to assess the efficacy of PTP inversion techniques for remote sensing of atmospheric refractivity within the MABL. Comparison of refractivity between the inverse and other refractivity methods show reasonable evaporation duct height estimates by the inversion, and inverse‐based propagation predictions are also shown to be more accurate than propagation based on other refractivity prediction methods: numerical weather prediction, theory, and in situ atmospheric measurements. These results propose the effectiveness of a PTP metaheuristic radar inversion to remotely sense refractive environments from radar propagation measurements in stable and unstable atmospheric conditions.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2022
Source ID
10.1029/2021rs007345

Entities

People

  • Daniel P. Greenway
  • Douglas M. Pastore
  • Erin E Hackett
  • Mathew J. Stanek
  • Qing Wang
  • Robert J. Burkholder
  • Sarah E. Wessinger
  • Tracy Haack

Organizations

  • Coastal Carolina University
  • Naval Postgraduate School
  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Climatology
  • Radar Systems Engineering.