INTERPRETATION OF THE FLUCTUATING ECHO FROM RANDOMLY DISTRIBUTED SCATTERERS: PART 3
Abstract
The interpretation of the fluctuating echo is an important problem in radar meteorology. The problem is usually to estimate the long-term mean echo intensity by examining only a rather small number of echoes. This 'observer's problem' is the principal subject of the present report. The solution to the observer's problem is obtained as a probability distribution of the long-term mean echo intensity. This distribution becomes narrower and more sharply peaked as the number of independent echoes measured increases. The exact form of the distribution depends on the assumed a priori probability distribution; however, the dependence becomes negligible when the number of echoes is sufficiently large. Averaging the echo intensities is the optimum method of processing the echoes; averaging intensity levels or amplitudes is less satisfactory. However, the loss of precision when intensity levels are averaged is small, and it may be offset by other advantages of the logarithmic scale. Measuring only the intensity level of the maximum echo gives better results than averaging when the number of echoes is small, and somewhat poorer results when the number is large.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0614658
Entities
People
- Paul Jr L. Smith
Organizations
- McGill University