Inflight weather and ground mapping radar
First Claim
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1. A method of weather radar rain compensation, comprising:
- (a) determining a rain rate from a first radar return based on the apparent reflectivity of the rain within a first radar range gate region;
(b) producing a two way attenuation value for the first radar range gate region from the rain rate responsive to first and second adjustment values, the first adjustment value corresponding to negligible self attenuation and the second adjustment value corresponding to dominant self attenuation, which second adjustment value is a non-linear function of said apparent reflectivity and of the width of said first radar range gate region; and
(c) adjusting a second radar return from a second radar range gate region behind the first radar range gate region responsive to the two way attenuation value.
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Abstract
The present invention is a radar system that corrects for changes in apparent reflectivity and two-way precipitation attenuation using a correction curve that includes a segment for low rain rates, a segment for high rain rates and, if desired, a transition segment for medium rain rates. The signal to noise ratio is further improved by using a sliding azimuth window during post detection integration processing.
38 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of weather radar rain compensation, comprising:
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(a) determining a rain rate from a first radar return based on the apparent reflectivity of the rain within a first radar range gate region; (b) producing a two way attenuation value for the first radar range gate region from the rain rate responsive to first and second adjustment values, the first adjustment value corresponding to negligible self attenuation and the second adjustment value corresponding to dominant self attenuation, which second adjustment value is a non-linear function of said apparent reflectivity and of the width of said first radar range gate region; and (c) adjusting a second radar return from a second radar range gate region behind the first radar range gate region responsive to the two way attenuation value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of compensating a weather radar received return signal to ensure it accurately indicates high rain rate weather comprising:
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(a) processing the radar return signal to determine an apparent reflectivity value associated with the rain rate in each radar range gate; (b) compensating said apparent reflectivity value with a self attenuation rain rate increment for radar return signals indicating high rain rate radar range gate regions, which self attenuation rain rate increment is a non-linear function of said apparent reflectivity value and of the width of the radar range gate region. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An improved weather radar comprising:
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transmitter/receiver means for transmitting a radar signal and receiving a radar return signal; signal processing and compensation means for processing the radar return signal to determine an apparent reflectivity value associated with the rain rate in each radar range gate, and for compensating said apparent reflectivity value with a self attenuation rain rate increment for radar return signals indicating high rain rate radar range gates which self attenuation rain rate increment is a non-linear function of said apparent reflectivity and of the width of the radar range gate from which the received signal is had; display means for displaying a color pattern corresponding to the compensated radar return signal which accurately indicates high rain rates. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification