Wingtip generated wake vortices as radar target

Author

Marshall, Robert E. ; Myers, Theodore J.

Author_Institution

Res. Triangle Inst., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

Volume

11

Issue

12

fYear

1996

fDate

12/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

27

Lastpage

30

Abstract

Previous radar wake vortex detection experiments have resulted in measured beam averaged values of radar reflectivity from wake vortices in clear air. We have employed average wind and thermodynamic variable output from a two dimensional wake vortex model in clear air and fog to predict radar reflectivity in a wake vortex on a one meter grid. The results agree well, compared to data in the literature. In the clear air case, scales of turbulence were analyzed at each grid point to determine the appropriate maximum radar frequency for detection, initial wake structure, transport, and vortex persistence are related to atmospheric winds, atmospheric stability, and generating aircraft characteristics

Keywords

Rayleigh scattering; atmospheric electromagnetic wave propagation; electromagnetic wave reflection; electromagnetic wave scattering; fog; radar signal processing; radar tracking; target tracking; vortices; wakes; wind; Bragg scatter; Rayleigh scatter; aircraft characteristics; atmospheric stability; atmospheric winds; average wind; clear air; grid point; maximum radar frequency; measured beam averaged values; one meter grid; radar reflectivity; radar target; thermodynamic variable output; transport; turbulence; two dimensional wake vortex model; vortex persistence; wake structure; wake vortices; wingtip generated wake vortices; Airborne radar; Character generation; Frequency; Predictive models; Radar detection; Radar measurements; Reflectivity; Stability analysis; Thermodynamics; Wind forecasting;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8985

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/62.544796

Filename

544796