Bistatic scatter from rain

An experimental investigation of bistatic scatter from rain was conducted using a 143 km scatter path at frequencies of 4.5 and 7.7 GHz. The ratio of transmitted to received power (transmission loss) was measured for scattering angles ranging from to . Simultaneous weather radar observations were made at a frequency of 1.3 GHz. Transmission loss estimates for the bistatic scatter path were computed using the weather radar data, the bistatic radar equation, and a model for the scattering cross section per unit volume of rain based upon Rayleigh scattering by an ensemble of water spheres. The measured and estimated transmission loss values were compared to test the use of the scattering model for the estimation of interference. The averaged ratio of measured-to-calculated transmission loss for the 4.5 GHz data is 1.2 dB. The averaged ratio for the 7.7 GHz data is -1.6 dB. Both these values are within the combined calibration uncertainties of each measurement system. The results show that the use of the simplified Rayleigh scattering cross section model for an ensemble of water spheres adequately describes bistatic scatter for a wide range of scattering angles and frequencies below 7.7 GHz for the hydrometeor types (rain, snow, and mixed rain and snow) encountered in New England.