UHF/VHF Radar Techniques for Atmospheric Research and Wind Profiler Applications

Abstract

The UHF/VHF radar technology has seen significant development over the last decade, and the application of the radars as wind profilers is a reasonable consequence. While instrumentation and analysis techniques for providing routine hourly winds are well advanced, there are still many open questions and uncertainties in the processes that lead to the radar echoes and that can have an influence on accuracy and reliability of the measurements. The spaced antenna technique compares favorably with the Doppler technique, and an operational application by designing a spaced antenna wind profiler prototype appears to be in order. Further advances of the radar techniques, such as the interferometer applications, appear to offer possibilities for probing the atmospheric structure and turbulence responsible for the radar signals.