Pulse Compression Waveform and Filter Optimization for Spaceborne Cloud and Precipitation Radar

• Published in: IEEE transactions on geoscience and remote sensing Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 915 - 931
• Main Authors: Beauchamp, Robert M., Tanelli, Simone, Peral, Eva, Chandrasekar, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-02-2017; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Clouds; Compression; Computer simulation; Constraint modelling; Doppler sonar; Earth; Earth orbit; Earth orbits; Echoes; Frequency dependence; Frequency modulation; Low earth orbits; Meteorological radar; Optimization; Optimization techniques; Performance measurement; Precipitation; Profiles; Pulse compression; pulse compression methods; Radar; radar clutter; Radar cross-sections; radar remote sensing; Radar scattering; Reflectance; Remote sensing; Sea surface; Sensitivity; Sidelobes; Spaceborne radar; Spatial distribution; Surface waves; Waveforms
• ISSN: 0196-2892; 1558-0644
• DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2016.2616898

The optimal design of pulse compression waveform/filter pairs for use with near-nadir spaceborne radar in low earth orbit for the observation of clouds and precipitation is discussed. An optimization technique is introduced that considers performance metrics specific to the remote sensing of clouds and precipitation from such platforms. Specifically, the sensitivity of the radar to precipitation and clouds is maximized as close to the ground as required. The sensitivity of the radar near the surface is typically limited by the pulse compression range sidelobes from the surface's echo. Optimization of the waveform/filter pair's performance is facilitated by a time-domain radar scattering model to simulate radar reflectivity range profiles. The presented radar-scattering model accounts for the radar's configuration constraints and platform motion, as well as the spatial distribution and relative motion of the scatterers. In this paper, the optimization of both linear frequency modulation (LFM) and nonlinear frequency modulation (NLFM) waveforms is considered. It is demonstrated that the LFM waveforms provide superior performance over NLFM waveforms for application subject to unmitigated Doppler shifts.