Turbulence detector for non-coherent pulse radar

摘要

Information about air turbulence and wind shear can be obtained by analyzing the fluctuation of the envelope, at the detector output of a pulse radar, of backscatter from hydrometeors which trace the wind field. Further, under some conditions, radar returns can be identified as being backscatter from weather targets or from the ground or sea. The detector output signal is quantized into one of several class intervals whose boundaries, in mid-range, are in the same ratio. Consecutive radar returns from scatterers at the same nominal range and scan angle are quantized into either the same or different class intervals. The ratio of the number of consecutive quantizations that are different to the number of trials is a measure of the variance of relative velocities at that range and scan angle. This technique permits economical implementation of a plan position display of, for example, the expected severity of turbulence or wind shear at each increment of range and azimuth angle since duplication of circuits is not required.