Method and apparatus for calibrating horizontal and vertical channels in a double-polarized weather radar

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for calibration of horizontal (H) and vertical (V) channels in a dual polarized weather radar. The goal of the invention is accomplished by placing an secondary feed (10) in center of the antenna dish (8) opposite to the primary feed (9) of the radar antenna. A low power signal on the radar's operating frequency is fed to the secondary feed (10) and transmitted towards the primary feed. The calibration signal is received normally by H- and V-channels (4), (5) of the radar receiver and differences observed between the channels are used as calibration information for actual weather echoes. The secondary antenna can also be used for reception of the high power signal of the radar to calibrate the transmission channels of the radar.