REMOTE SENSING OF RAIN BY RADAR,
Abstract
Attenuation by rain imposes severe limitations on short-wavelength meteorological radars investigating rain. This is true whether the radar is ground based and located within the rain medium or remote from it. This paper analyzes the combined effects of scattering and attenuation for remotely located rain radars on such quantities as sensitivity to rainfall rate, measurement of rainfall rate distribution in range for short-pulse radars, clutter, and discrimination with a ground or sea background. The normalized radar cross section is derived as a function of wavelength and rainfall rate for two different rain models, as a convenient means of comparison. It is concluded that the one-way attenuation through the rain medium must be less than a few decibels; otherwise the radar will not be sensitive to rainfall rate. This result is unaffected by the choice of rain model. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0667194
Entities
People
- Richard L. Mitchell
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation