Title :
Multi-wavelength impacts on coastal radar performance during a sea breeze
Author :
Marshall, Robert E. ; Stapleton, Janet K.
Author_Institution :
Dahlgren Div., Electromagn. & Sensor Syst. Dept., Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, VA
Abstract :
Sea breeze circulations dramatically impact the detection performance of coastal radar and are forecast to increase in strength and frequency into the 21st century. Dry and warm air from the land flows offshore between 100 and 200 meters above sea level out to 100 km offshore. This redistribution of water vapor and temperature creates strong vertical humidity and temperature gradients resulting in significant radar ducting. These thermodynamic gradients and resulting non-standard propagation structures vary in time and space as the sea breeze develops. Spatio-temporal radar skip zones develop within the ducts and reduced target detection ranges develop above the ducts. Notional S, C and X band radars are modeled with the advanced refractive effects prediction system and are located at the shoreline during a sea breeze. The azimuth and range dependent refractivity field is modeled by the regional atmospheric Mesoscale Prediction System.
Keywords :
marine radar; object detection; radar detection; refractive index; spatiotemporal phenomena; temperature distribution; coastal radar target detection; multiwavelength impact; range dependent refractivity field; regional atmospheric mesoscale prediction system; sea breeze circulation; spatiotemporal radar; temperature gradient; temperature redistribution; thermodynamic gradient; Atmospheric modeling; Ducts; Frequency; Humidity; Land surface temperature; Ocean temperature; Predictive models; Radar detection; Sea level; Sea measurements;
Conference_Titel :
Radar Conference, 2009 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Pasadena, CA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-2870-0
Electronic_ISBN :
1097-5659
DOI :
10.1109/RADAR.2009.4977004