A real-time RFC system for radar coverage prediction

This paper introduces a real-time ¿refractivity from clutter¿ RFC system. Its aim is to predict the radar coverage by the inversion of the sea clutter in open sea. The method introduced here renders a real-time approximation of the refractive conditions with respect to the distance and the azimuth angles visible from the radar. Using this system, the radar coverage can be modeled in real-time on all the azimuths taking into account the refractive conditions. The inverted refractive conditions are an approximation of the real conditions. This system has been tested and validated on data from the Wallops ´98 measurement campaign. This paper shows the effect of the azimuthal variation of the refractive conditions on the radar coverage and how the developed system renders a result coherent with the azimuth.