Effectiveness of Adaptive PRF (Pulse Repetition Frequency) Selection in Minimizing Range Obscuration in the TDWR (Terminal Doppler Weather Radar) System

摘要

An adaptive procedure for selecting radar pulse repetition frequency (PRF) has been developed as the primary means of minimizing the occurrence of range aliased echoes within operationally significant coverage areas (e.g., airport runways) of the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) system. This procedure underwent extensive testing at the S-Band TDWR testbed while located in Denver, CO, where it was judged to be highly successful at preserving the integrity of data collected within the vicinity of the Stapleton International Airport runways. The actual TDWR system will operate at a C-Band frequency, and an increase in potential range obscuration is expected over that experienced by the S-band testbed. This report discusses the anticipated performance of the PRF selection procedure in the C-Band environment by extrapolating results obtained using S-Band testbed data. The results conclusively demonstrates the efficacy of adaptive PRF selection as a method by which to reduce potential range obscuration. A worst-case scenario, for example, indicates that over 20% of the TDWR radar data collected about the airport runways has the potential for being contaminated with range aliased echoes at any given time during TDWR surveillance operations. With adaptive PRF selection, however, the expected obscuration is reduced to only 3%. (rh)