Multipatterns of the National Weather Radar Testbed Mitigate Clutter Received via Sidelobes

Abstract

The phased-array radar (PAR) of the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) has a unique hybrid (mechanical and electrical) azimuth scan capability, allowing weather observations with different antenna patterns. Observations show the standard deviation of the sample mean power of weather echoes received through the main lobe of a set of squinted beams is less than the clutter received via sidelobes. This then allows use of a multipattern technique to cancel sidelobe echoes from moving scatterers, echoes that cannot be filtered with a ground-clutter canceler. Although the multipattern technique was developed to cancel clutter received through sidelobes, results show clutter from objects moving within the beam can also be canceled.