volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

Short-wavelength radar networks are expected to complement current long-range weather radar systems. Accordingly, we proposed a configuration for such a network constituting pulse compression radars in order to use frequency resources efficiently and obtain multi-static information. We developed high resolution Ka-band pulse compression weather radar system as a test-bed. Using a commercial direct digital synthesizer (DDS) and field programmable gate array (FPGA) control, we generated linear and arbitrary nonlinear frequency modulated waveforms for low range sidelobes. Further, we completed a high duty factor system with a solid-state power amplifier. In a vertical-pointing mode, we were able to employ the developed radar to detect moderate rainfall up to 15 km. Details of the system design, hardware structure, data acquisition and processing algorithms were described. To validate the performance of the proposed radar system, we conducted several experiments by measuring cloud, snow and rain.

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Dr. Hoon Lee

Prof. Yong-Hoon Kim