Abstract
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) is one of the main issues in weather radar community. Data quality and post-processing algorithm, such as quantitative precipitation estimation and hydrometeor classification, are often affected by interferences. C-band radars share their operational frequency band with Radio Local Area Network (RLAN) and Wireless Area Network (WLAN), which may cause harmful interferences in radar systems. Nowadays, in northwestern Italy, the X-band weather radar managed by Arpa Piemonte is also receiving interfering signals. This work aims to introduce the RFIs phenomena affecting both C-band and X-band weather radars in Piemonte region, Italy. A preliminary method to detect the interfering sources at C-band is discussed, cross-checking data available in the regional database of electromagnetic sources and in-field measurements. A six-day measurement campaign was performed using the X-band radar as receiving antenna to collect an extensive dataset of interfering signals. The polarimetric features of the acquired RFI dataset are presented. The X-band RFIs show a day–night pattern, likely caused by human-related activities. The growth of wireless telecommunication systems, such as HiperLAN in northwestern Italy, and the continuous demand of electromagnetic spectrum portions make the understanding of electromagnetic interferences in weather radars the primary concern to ensure the data quality.
Highlights
One of the main challenges in weather radar data quality is electromagnetic interference (Tristant [1] and Saltikoff et al [2])
In Italy, as in most European countries, operational weather radars operate at C-band, in the 5.6 GHz band, sharing the frequency band with Radio Local Area Network (RLAN) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
Analyzing the data available in the regional database of electromagnetic sources, managed by Arpa Piemonte, these telecommunication systems are continuously increasing in rural areas as broadband Internet access points
Summary
One of the main challenges in weather radar data quality is electromagnetic interference (Tristant [1] and Saltikoff et al [2]). Weather radars operate in frequency bands close to, or shared with, other telecommunication systems. This is the case of C- and X-band weather radars managed by Arpa Piemonte, the environmental protection agency of Piemonte region, Italy. Analyzing the data available in the regional database of electromagnetic sources, managed by Arpa Piemonte, these telecommunication systems are continuously increasing in rural areas as broadband Internet access points. Concerning the X-band weather radar, electromagnetic interferences started a couple of years ago and are continuously increasing. Since the number of X-band radars deployed in Europe is constantly increasing, as well as in the United States, the coexistence of weather radars with telecommunication systems requires further investigations. Interference removal or mitigation tools will be developed based on the features of interfering signals, but these methods are not discussed in this paper
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