Considerations in Pulse Compression Design for Weather Radars

Pulse compression is a useful technique for weather radar, as an enabling technology to facilitate use of low-power solid state transmitters. It also has the benefit of improving the dynamic range and range resolution of the radar, permitting rapid scanning of a volume. The nonlinear FMpulse waveform described produces the low sidelobe levels required for weather radar applications, while remaining Doppler-tolerant within the range of radial velocities expected for weather radar (plusmn100 m/s). Traditional pulse compression waveforms must be modified to reduce their range sidelobes to levels suitable for use in weather radar. The use of pulse compression involves some changes to the methods used during radar calibration, and places some restrictions on the design and implementation of the RF and IF components of the radar.