Spaced-Antenna Interferometry to Detect and Locate Subvolume Inhomogeneities of Reflectivity: An Analogy with Monopulse Radar

Abstract

The theory of spaced-antenna interferometry (SAI) is formulated to detect and locate deterministic objects and reflectivity inhomogeneities embedded within the phased-array weather radar?s resolution volume V6 and to improve weather radar performance. An analogy is made between monopulse tracking and SAI. The cross-correlation function and its power spectrum are derived based on wave scattering by a large deterministic object and clusters of randomly distributed precipitation particles. It is shown that nonuniform beam filling leads to an effective narrower beam and an increase in cross-correlation coefficient at zero lag. Hence, an individual object or a subvolume inhomogeneity can be detected and located by SAI. This capability further enhances the potential applications of phased-array weather radar used as a multimission system.