Software beam forming for ocean radar WERA features and accuracy

The WERA system (WavE RAdar) is a shore based remote sensing system to monitor ocean surface currents, waves and wind direction. This long range, high resolution monitoring system based on short radio wave radar technology. The vertical polarised electromagnetic wave is coupled to the conductive ocean surface and follows the curvature of the earth. This over the horizon oceanography radar can pick up back-scattered signals from the rough ocean surface (Bragg effect) from ranges of up to 200 km. The direction in azimuth is defined by means of the phase of the incoming electro-magnetic wave. That means the accuracy of this measured azimuth strongly depends on the quality of this phase measurements. The described Software Beam Forming method combines best accuracy with the highest temporal resolution for ocean radar applications. Compared with other beam forming methods the flexibility of this method provides more degrees of freedom for the radar site planing and makes it much easier to identify suited site locations.