机载气象雷达发展趋势分析

作为危险气象感知的重要手段,机载气象雷达在航空安全保障中发挥着重要作用。本文通过分析机载气象雷达的发展历程和国内外产品及技术,展望了机载气象雷达的发展趋势,并对其关键技术与难点进行了梳理,分析结果可以促进国内相关技术的研究和发展。     

机载气象雷达回波信号仿真系统

设计了一个机载气象雷达回波信号仿真系统,可用于高保真雷达回波信号的生成与演示。基于高保真风场建模数据,依照真实机载气象雷达的扫描方式初始化仿真参数,对风场数据进行机载气象雷达回波仿真,得到了可靠的仿真数据,并对可靠性进行验证。该系统采用C#与Matlab联合编程的方法进行实现,可实现的功能包括各种气象目标在不同模式下的雷达回波仿真,雷达回波数据正确性的验证及展示。得到的信号可为机载气象雷达信号处理和数据处理算法的开发提供数据支持。     

Polish radar technology

Polish radar research and development since 1953 is reviewed, covering the development and production of surveillance radars, height finders, tracking radars, air traffic control (ATC) radars and systems, and marine and Doppler radars. Some current work, including an L-band ATC radar for enroute control, a weather channel for primary surveillance radar, signal detection in non-Gaussian clutter, adaptive MTI filters and postdetection filtering, and a basic approach to radar polarimetry, is examined.<>     

Planetary characteristics from radar observations

Conclusions Long wavelength radar observations of Venus yield a surface reflectivity of about 15%. Total power measurements at 12.5 cm and 3.6 cm strongly suggest that significant atmospheric absorption is operative in this wavelength region. If the observed low value of reflectivity at 3.6 cm is attributed to atmospheric absorption alone an opacity of = 1.14 is implied at this wavelength rather independently from assumptions concerning the surface scattering characteristics of Venus. An inverse ² opacity law for the atmosphere is consistent with the reflectivity measurements over the complete range of observations wavelengths.The mathematical characteristics of the Venusian backscatter law are the same as for the moon but wavelength-dependent mean effective slopes indicate that Venus appears smoother than the moon at all radar wavelengths.Considerable progress has been made toward obtaining a precise value for the Venusian axial rotation vector which is found to be oriented to within 10 degrees of the planet's orbital plane. The period of (retrograde) rotation lies within the range 242–250 days with the lower value favored by the statistics of the data. Regions of enhanced radar return fixed to the surface have been found and verified at a later conjunction. Measurements of the surface radar depolarization support the hypothesis that the prominences are due to increased surface roughness as opposed to regional increases of dielectric constant.Observations of Mercury strongly suggest that the rotation period of the planet is about 59 days, a conclusion which has been supported, a posteriori, by theoretical tidal calculations and rediscussions of optical observations of surface markings. Mercury has radar backscatter characteristics more similar to the moon than Venus and exhibits a reflectivity of about 5%.Mars has demonstrated strong variations of radar backscatter characteristics which appear correlated with the Martian longitude and, in turn, with the dark surface markings in its north equatorial zone. Particularly reliable correlations have been discovered with the positions of Trivium Charontis and Syrtis Major. The observed variations appear to be primarily manifested in terms of the Martian radar backscatter law or surface roughness as opposed to variations in the intrinsic surface material reflectivities although the observations are not sufficiently precise to resolve this question. Variations in surface materials are apparently also present but their degree is currently unassayable. The reflectivity of the average surface has been crudely determined to be about 7% which suggests that the surface of Mars is composed of underdense materials. The 7% value is consistent with the values of 7.5% and 5% for the moon and Mercury, respectively, and is significantly different from the 15% value for Venus,No unequivocal radar detection of Jupiter has been made although a statistically weak detection has been reported for a single opposition which could not be verified in succeeding attempts.     

ExoMars 2016 Schiaparelli Module Trajectory and Atmospheric Profiles Reconstruction

On 19^th October 2016 Schiaparelli module of the ExoMars 2016 mission flew through the Mars atmosphere. After successful entry and descent under parachute, the module failed the last part of the descent and crashed on the Mars surface. Nevertheless the data transmitted in real-time by Schiaparelli during the entry and descent, together with the entry state vector as initial condition, have been used to reconstruct both the trajectory and the profiles of atmospheric density, pressure and temperature along the traversed path.The available data-set is only a small sub-set of the whole data acquired by Schiaparelli, with a limited data rate (8 kbps) and a large gap during the entry because of the plasma blackout on the communications.This paper presents the work done by the AMELIA (Atmospheric Mars Entry and Landing Investigations and Analysis) team in the exploitation of the available inertial and radar data. First a reference trajectory is derived by direct integration of the inertial measurements and a strategy to overcome the entry data gap is proposed. First-order covariance analysis is used to estimate the uncertainties on all the derived parameters. Then a refined trajectory is computed incorporating the measurements provided by the on-board radar altimeter.The derived trajectory is consistent with the events reported in the telemetry and also with the impact point identified on the high-resolution images of the landing site.Finally, atmospheric profiles are computed tacking into account the aerodynamic properties of the module. Derived profiles result in good agreement with both atmospheric models and available remote sensing observations.     

Mapping lightning channels in a thunderstorm by radar

The state of Georgia has experienced a number of tornados that occur without warning, and, in several cases have caused fatalities. Researchers at the Severe Storms Research Center (SSRC) of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Georgia Institute of Technology are attempting to detect tornado formation within severe thunderstorms occurring in the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia, using non-radar sensors that may provide early tornado warning and provide cueing to existing National Weather Service (NWS) radars. The goal of these studies is to increase the warning time of tornado formation within the parent thunderstorm. GTRI researchers use real-time S-band Doppler weather radar data from three National Weather Service WSR-88D NEXRAD radars to complement the development of the non-radar tornado sensors. Three NWS Doppler radars provide severe weather surveillance coverage of the north Georgia area to determine if a thunderstorm contains the Doppler signature that indicates tornado formation. The radar data, displayed on a work station developed and optimized for tornado detection by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), serves as ground truth data for the non-radar sensor development. GTRI can display cloud to ground (CG) lightning strikes, a capability provided by overlaying data from a national monitoring network onto the radar reflectivity map. GTRI also uses a local lightning direction finder (DF) system that supplies azimuth and range to the lightning strike. This paper discusses the early lightning channel research and the passive parasitic radar system being operated by the SSRC.     

Two Methods of Ambiguity Resolution in Pulse Doppler Weather Radars

A comparison is made of the performance of a weather Doppler radar with a staggered pulse repetition time and a radar with a random (but known) phase. As a standard for this comparison, the specifications of the forthcoming next generation weather radar (NEXRAD) are used. A statistical analysis of the spectral moment estimates for the staggered scheme is developed, and a theoretical expression for the signal-to-noise ratio due to recohering-filtering-recohering for the random phase radar is obtained. Algorithms for assignment of correct ranges to pertinent spectral moments for both techniques are presented.     

An approach to radiated testing of installed airborne Doppler radarwith weather/windshear detection capability

Numerous documents were reviewed to verify radar parameters needed to analyze and present the tester concept described herein. The weather and windshear models defined use the identical criteria established for the Doppler radar in terms of F-factor. The basic concept of the tester is to transmit coherent simulated radar returns in response to the airborne radar's transmission while mounted on a tripod in the far field of the radar when parked on the ramp. The varying amplitude of the received radar pulses are analyzed and put into memory as the tester antenna is illuminated by the scanning main beam and side lobes of the radar's antenna patterns. The tester controls the power of its outputted simulated radar returns in inverse relation to the power of the received radar pulses. These simulated radar returns, outputted into the main beam and/or side lobes of the scanning radar antenna, are interpreted by the radar system as received in the main lobe. The tester transmissions, incorporating microburst, storm and gust front models, previously defined, can thereby test the aircraft radar system performance in various hazard environments. The tester is designed to: verify operational performance of the radar; demonstrate installed radar performance; verify crew reports and minimize radar or LRU's removal for maintenance; test before and after a repair; and verify radome effects on radar performance     

基于嵌入式仿真的雷达训练系统设计

介绍了嵌入式仿真技术及其发展,将嵌入式仿真与雷达模拟训练相结合,构成了能够嵌入到机械扫描雷达实装的模拟训练系统。描述了对嵌入式仿真训练系统的结构组成以及部分模块的功能,研究了模拟雷达视频回波数据的方法和模型,包括目标回波、地物杂波、海杂波、气象杂波、有源干扰和接收机内部噪声,利用数学模型计算回波的强度、方位、距离等特性,调制实际录取的回波数据,生成与态势设置参数相应的模拟回波数据,能够对信号处理操作和抗干扰操作做出响应。通过对视频回波进行仿真,由终端显示画面可知模拟的回波数据具有较高的逼真度,经测试模拟视频回波能够被雷达显控终端识别。     

Wingtip generated wake vortices as radar target

Previous radar wake vortex detection experiments have resulted in measured beam averaged values of radar reflectivity from wake vortices in clear air. We have employed average wind and thermodynamic variable output from a two dimensional wake vortex model in clear air and fog to predict radar reflectivity in a wake vortex on a one meter grid. The results agree well, compared to data in the literature. In the clear air case, scales of turbulence were analyzed at each grid point to determine the appropriate maximum radar frequency for detection, initial wake structure, transport, and vortex persistence are related to atmospheric winds, atmospheric stability, and generating aircraft characteristics     

Detection Statistics for Laser Radar in Atmospheric Turbulence with Fluctuating Targets

The probability of detection and false-alarm rates are developed for laser radar systems perturbed by background radiation, fluctuating targets, and atmospheric turbulence. In particular, some results on the decibel loss due to atmospheric turbulence are presented.     

Effective Antenna Pattern of Scanning Radars

It is shown that weather radar signal averaging causes a broadened apparent pattern of the scanning radar antenna. The apparent pattern is obtained by convolving the original pattern with the averaging circuit impulse response. Echo displacement and pattern broadness are examined for square law, linear, and logarithmic detectors having exponential and finite time integrators.     

航迹规划中雷达探测空间的生成

从飞机突防习行任务规划出发，综合考虑地球曲率、陆地（或海洋）的反射和杂波干扰、大气折射和吸收损耗等因素的影响，采用临界散射截面法生成了对空警戒雷达在不同地貌、发现概率下，对不同雷达散射截面的目标的探测空间。计算并分析了飞行高度、目标雷达散射截面、发现概率和地貌等因素对雷达探测空间的影响，以便选择低探测概率的飞行走廓，这对制定和实施安全突防飞行策略有实际意义。     

Resolution of signal sources via spectral moment estimation

In different practical situations it is desired to estimate the number of signal sources and their positions in space or in frequency domain. The first problem is known as the detection or the order estimation and the second one as the resolution. For the resolution problem techniques such as nonlinear least squares (NLSM), high-order Yule-Walker method (HOYW), multiple signal classification (MUSIC), Pisarenko harmonic retrieval method, min-norm method, estimation of signal parameters by rotational invariance technique (ESPRIT), were proposed (Marple, 1987 and Stoica and Moses, 1997). All these high-resolution methods are based on the analysis of the signal covariance matrix. But the covariance matrix is not the only choice to represent the signal spectrum. In different applications (weather radars, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signal processing, ultrasound imaging in medicine, atmospheric turbulence measurements) the signal spectrum can be modeled through its algebraic moments. Recently a number of efficient nonparametric methods have been proposed to estimate the algebraic spectral moments (Monakov, 1999). The presented paper is an attempt to solve the direction of arrival (DOA) problem via estimation of the algebraic spectral moments. A method proposed in the article is comparable in its accuracy with the MUSIC method. At the same time its computational burden is much lower. The method permits to estimate the signal power of sources easily to complete the full spectral line analysis. Additionally the method shows good robustness in situations when signal sources have noticeable spatial extend     

基于复近似消息传递的前视雷达成像分辨率增强算法

当机载/弹载雷达工作在前视状态时,由于成像场景内不同角度处目标的多普勒差异很小,很难得到 高的角度分辨率。针对海面舰船目标的前视成像应用,利用成像区域具有明显稀疏性的特点,提出一种基于复 近似消息传递压缩感知处理的前视成像角度分辨率增强算法,建立前视成像的线性观测信号模型,给出复近似 消息传递的迭代计算过程,以及多通道雷达前视成像的处理流程。通过仿真数据和 X 波段雷达实测数据的处 理结果验证了该方法的有效性。     

TALONS 95 GHz radar sensor for autonomous landing guidance

Ground tests of the TALONS (tactical avionics for low-level navigation and strike) 95-GHz radar sensor are reported. Radar backscatter data were taken for a runway/taxiway system at realistic depression angles in various weather conditions to determine the effects of precipitation and fog. The data were analyzed and utilized to produce radar imagery. Radar cross-sections of several tactical targets were also measured. It was found that the conditions encountered during the test program were virtually transparent to 95-GHz energy at the detection ranges required for landing guidance     

修正极坐标系下雷达与ESM航迹对准关联

研究了存在系统误差时修正极坐标系(MPC)下的雷达与电子支援措施(ESM)航迹关联问题。系统误差导致MPC下雷达和ESM的角度估计产生偏移,而对角度变化率、距变率与距离的比值(ITG)的估计影响不大;结合非中心卡方分布的知识,分析了雷达与ESM的测量误差对非中心参数和正确关联概率的影响;提出了一种基于积分重合度的雷达与ESM航迹对准关联算法。首先将雷达与ESM的目标映射到角度-角度变化率空间,分别得到了雷达与ESM的目标曲线,然后对两目标曲线求积分重合度,估计出雷达与ESM测角系统误差的偏移量,对偏移量补偿后进行雷达与ESM的航迹关联。仿真结果表明,本文所提算法能有效地提高存在系统误差时雷达与ESM正确航迹关联概率。     

某雷达模拟器的目标与杂波信号模拟强度研究

建立了雷达模拟器中目标、地物杂波、海杂波、气象杂波的信号强度计算模型,根据相对运动关系解算出各目标与杂波信号的强度,并按时间流程存储在对应的数据表中,从而信号源将产生相应强度的信号注入雷达模拟台,以便后端雷达模拟台能在雷达威力覆盖范围内准确地显示出目标与杂波强度变化。通过仿真软件在雷达训练模拟器中的功能测试,实现了目标与杂波仿真效果,满足了雷达模拟训练的要求。     

An Overview of Earth’s Global Electric Circuit and Atmospheric Conductivity

The Earth’s global atmospheric electric circuit depends on the upper and lower atmospheric boundaries formed by the ionosphere and the planetary surface. Thunderstorms and electrified rain clouds drive a DC current (～1 kA) around the circuit, with the current carried by molecular cluster ions; lightning phenomena drive the AC global circuit. The Earth’s near-surface conductivity ranges from 10^?7 S?m^?1 (for poorly conducting rocks) to 10^?2 S?m^?1 (for clay or wet limestone), with a mean value of 3.2 S?m^?1 for the ocean. Air conductivity inside a thundercloud, and in fair weather regions, depends on location (especially geomagnetic latitude), aerosol pollution and height, and varies from ～10^?14 S?m^?1 just above the surface to 10^?7 S?m^?1 in the ionosphere at ～80 km altitude. Ionospheric conductivity is a tensor quantity due to the geomagnetic field, and is determined by parameters such as electron density and electron–neutral particle collision frequency. In the current source regions, point discharge (coronal) currents play an important role below electrified clouds; the solar wind-magnetosphere dynamo and the unipolar dynamo due to the terrestrial rotating dipole moment also apply atmospheric potential differences. Detailed measurements made near the Earth’s surface show that Ohm’s law relates the vertical electric field and current density to air conductivity. Stratospheric balloon measurements launched from Antarctica confirm that the downward current density is ～1 pA m^?2 under fair weather conditions. Fortuitously, a Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) event arrived at Earth during one such balloon flight, changing the observed atmospheric conductivity and electric fields markedly. Recent modelling considers lightning discharge effects on the ionosphere’s electric potential (～+250 kV with respect to the Earth’s surface) and hence on the fair weather potential gradient (typically ～130 V?m^?1 close to the Earth’s surface. We conclude that cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning discharges make only a small contribution to the ionospheric potential, and that sprites (namely, upward lightning above energetic thunderstorms) only affect the global circuit in a miniscule way. We also investigate the effects of mesoscale convective systems on the global circuit.     

多云天气条件下的大气偏振光定向方法

针对多云天气情况下传统的偏振光定向算法精度下降的问题,提出了一种用于多云天气条件下的大气偏振光定向方法。首先,根据已知信息建立任意一个像素点的偏振光定向模型;然后,基于上一步得到的定向模型,利用随机抽样一致算法筛选出符合要求的内点,并根据筛选出的这些内点得出最符合要求的定向模型;最后,利用选取出的最优的定向模型解算出航向角,实现了基于大气偏振光的定向。通过实际数据证明了该方法的有效性,解算出的航向角误差在少云情况下小于0.5°、多云情况下小于1°。