Adaptive Technique for Clutter and Noise Supression in Weather Radar Exposes Weak Echoes Over an Urban Area

We present an adaptive spectral technique for ground clutter and noise suppression in weather radar echoes. This technique is especially good for detecting weak echoes that are either submerged in noise or masked by the residuals from ground clutter if standard techniques for clutter suppression are used. Our technique is demonstrated on two clear air cases observed with Doppler weather radar on February 22, 2007 and March 6, 2007. Adaptively suppressed ground clutter and noise allow exposure of a feature over an urban area, which we interpret as a "bird highway" between two lakes and along the river.