Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Multipatterns of the National Weather Radar Testbed Mitigate Clutter Received via Sidelobes

Guifu Zhang School of Meteorology, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Yinguang Li School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Richard J. Doviak School of Meteorology, and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Oklahoma, and NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma

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Dave Priegnitz NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, and Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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John Carter NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, and Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Christopher D. Curtis NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, and Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

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Print Publication:
01 Mar 2011
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JTECHA1453.1
Page(s):
401–409
Restricted access

Abstract

The phased-array radar (PAR) of the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) has a unique hybrid (mechanical and electrical) azimuth scan capability, allowing weather observations with different antenna patterns. Observations show the standard deviation of the sample mean power of weather echoes received through the main lobe of a set of squinted beams is less than the clutter received via sidelobes. This then allows use of a multipattern technique to cancel sidelobe echoes from moving scatterers, echoes that cannot be filtered with a ground-clutter canceler. Although the multipattern technique was developed to cancel clutter received through sidelobes, results show clutter from objects moving within the beam can also be canceled.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Guifu Zhang, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Ste. 5900, Norman, OK 73072. Email: guzhang1@ou.edu

Abstract

The phased-array radar (PAR) of the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) has a unique hybrid (mechanical and electrical) azimuth scan capability, allowing weather observations with different antenna patterns. Observations show the standard deviation of the sample mean power of weather echoes received through the main lobe of a set of squinted beams is less than the clutter received via sidelobes. This then allows use of a multipattern technique to cancel sidelobe echoes from moving scatterers, echoes that cannot be filtered with a ground-clutter canceler. Although the multipattern technique was developed to cancel clutter received through sidelobes, results show clutter from objects moving within the beam can also be canceled.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Guifu Zhang, School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Ste. 5900, Norman, OK 73072. Email: guzhang1@ou.edu

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