Spectral Characteristics of Low-Angle Radar Ground Clutter

Abstract

A detailed analysis of low-angle ground clutter spectral characteristics was carried out using the MIT Lincoln Lab Phase I data and the DREO S-band clutter data. Both the fast Fourier transform and a super-resolution spectral analysis technique were used. Results showed that a ground clutter spectrum comprises three components, namely: 1) a coherent component; 2) a slow-diffuse component; and 3) a fast-diffuse component. Both the coherent component and the slow-diffuse component may be modelled as a symmetrical negative exponential density function. The fast-diffuse component may be modelled as a band-limited noise. Model parameters included the spectral slopes, the spectral density at zero-Doppler, and the cutoff frequency of the fast-diffuse component. The spectral slopes of the slow-diffuse component at various wind speeds have been calculated from the clutter data. The spectral densities of the various components were inter-related through wind speed and land cover. These parameters can be determined statistically from the clutter coherence factor for various land covers and wind speeds. Results of this analysis provided additional insights into ground clutter and can be used to develop signal processing techniques for improved low-velocity target detection in ground-clutter limited environment. Canada.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA220817

Entities

People

  • H. C. Chan

Organizations

  • Defence Research and Development Canada

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Databases
  • Detection
  • Doppler Effect
  • Frequency
  • Ground Based
  • Low Angles
  • Phased Array Radar
  • Radar
  • Radar Signals
  • Signal Processing
  • Spectra
  • Target Detection
  • Vegetation
  • Wind
  • Wind Direction
  • Wind Velocity

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.