Weather Influences on Observed Radar Backscatter

Erhard MRAVLAG
University of Natal, South Africa

In this paper we investigate the influence of weather conditions upon the observed radar backscatter pattern. Weather and radar data from two Antarctic stations, SANAE and Syowa, are used as these stations exhibit extreme weather conditions. Preliminary results indicate a strong correlation between certain types of backscatter and high wind conditions. In particular during heavy storms the backscatter pattern tends to break into a speckle pattern, indicating that backscatter is not received from any specific location or range but from small scattering centres located rather at random in the field of view of the radar.

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