Abstract
Although weather radar's principal function is to identify and track precipitating storms, these radars also detect echoes from scatterers in fair weather. Sometimes the spatial distribution of reflectivity in clear air can be associated with meteorological phenomena such as waves, turbulent layers, fronts, etc. Echoes from clear air have been seen almost from the inception of radar observations (e.g., Colwell and Friend, 1936). These “angel echoes” were at first mystifying and were often associated with birds and insects. Clear-air echoes not related to any visible object were conclusively proven to emanate from refractive index irregularities in experiments with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) multiwavelength radars at Wallops Island, Virginia (Hardy et al., 1971). It is the purpose of this chapter to develop, from basic theory, a relation between the characteristics of the refractive index irregularities and the Doppler-shifted signals sensed by radar. Wind profilers and the Radio Acoustic Sounding Systems (RASS), which use Doppler radars, are also discussed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
