Coastal Atmospheric Effects on Microwave Refractivity

Abstract

Sharp vertical gradients within thermodynamic profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer (BL) create abrupt changes in refractivity, thereby impacting electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation. This study uses NRL's Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS(trademark)) to investigate refractive structure during a field experiment conducted at Wallops Island, VA. Measurements include low-elevation radar frequency pathloss, meteorological conditions (e.g., from buoys, rocketsondes, helicopter profiles), and radar clutter returns. EM propagation codes are useful for naval operations and decision-making; when supplied with accurate refractivity fields, they produce radar coverage diagrams. The fidelity of COAMPS(trademark) refractivity analyses/forecasts, and their usefulness as input to microwave propagation codes, is evaluated here in a complex littoral setting.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA521598

Entities

People

  • E. H. Burgess
  • J. R. Rottier
  • K. L. Davidson
  • P. A. Frederickson
  • R. E. Marshall
  • S. D. Burk
  • T. Haack

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Boundary Layer
  • Case Studies
  • Data Sets
  • High Resolution
  • Layers
  • Low Elevation
  • Marine Meteorology
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Microwaves
  • Naval Operations
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Sea Breeze
  • Sea Surface Temperature
  • Surface Temperature
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Radar Systems Engineering.