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At least 775 records · Page 43
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

A very wide frequency band pulsed/IF radar system

A pulsed/IF radar for compact range radar cross section measurements has been developed which converts RF returns to a fixed IF, so that amplification and grating may be performed at one frequency. This permits the use of components which have optimal performance at this frequency which results in a corresponding improvement in performance. Sensitivity and dynamic range are calculated for this system and compared with our old radar, and the effect of pulse width on clutter level is also studied. Sensitivity and accuracy tests are included to verify the performance of the radar.

Jones, D. N.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Radar penetration in the Amazonian rain forest

Radar return from vegetation covered terrains is due to three components: the scattering resulting from the top surface of the vegetation canopy (surface scattering); the scattering which occurs within the vegetation layer (volume scattering); and the scattering which takes place at the surface below the vegetation canopy (ground scattering). Through the studies of selected areas in the Amazon Region a case is presented where most of the radar returns observed in radar imagery results from the scattering at the surface below vegetation layer (ground scattering). Thus, radar penetration occurred.

Pereiradacunha, Roberto↗
NASA NTRS1986

Airborne and spaceborne radar images for geologic and environmental mapping in the Amazon rain forest, Brazil

Spaceborne and airborne radar image of portions of the Middle and Upper Amazon basin in the state of Amazonas and the Territory of Roraima are compared for purposes of geological and environmental mapping. The contrasted illumination geometries and imaging parameters are related to terrain slope and surface roughness characteristics for corresponding areas that were covered by each of the radar imaging systems. Landforms range from deeply dissected mountain and plateau with relief up to 500 m in Roraima, revealing ancient layered rocks through folded residual mountains to deeply beveled pediplain in Amazonas. Geomorphic features provide distinct textural signatures that are characteristic of different rock associations. The principle drainages in the areas covered are the Rio Negro, Rio Branco, and the Rio Japura. Shadowing effects and low radar sensitivity to subtle linear fractures that are aligned parallel or nearly parallel to the direction of radar illumination illustrate the need to obtain multiple coverage with viewing directions about 90 degrees. Perception of standing water and alluvial forest in floodplains varies with incident angle and with season. Multitemporal data sets acquired over periods of years provide an ideal method of monitoring environmental changes.

Ford, John P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Radarclinometry - Bootstrapping the radar reflectance function from the image pixel-signal frequency distribution and an altimetry profile

A method for determining the dependence of radar backscatter on incidence angle that is applicable to the region corresponding to a particular radar image is derived. The method is based on enforcing mathematical consistency between the frequency distribution of the images' pixel signals and a one-dimensional frequency distribution of slope component, which is obtained from a radar or laser altimetry profile in or near the imaged area. To test the resulting algorithm, an arbitrarily selected reflectance function is used to generate an artificial radar image from a digitized topographic map of the Lake Champlain West quadrangle in the Adirondack Mountains, U.S. It is found that, for 99 percent of the data, the maximum error is 1 degree.

Wildey, Robert L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Satellite radar interferometry - Two-dimensional phase unwrapping

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar observations provide a means for obtaining high-resolution digital topographic maps from measurements of amplitude and phase of two complex radar images. The phase of the radar echoes may only be measured modulo 2 pi; however, the whole phase at each point in the image is needed to obtain elevations. An approach to 'unwrapping' the 2 pi ambiguities in the two-dimensional data set is presented. It is found that noise and geometrical radar layover corrupt measurements locally, and these local errors can propagate to form global phase errors that affect the entire image. It is shown that the local errors, or residues, can be readily identified and avoided in the global phase estimation. A rectified digital topographic map derived from the unwrapped phase values is presented.

Goldstein, Richard M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Radar investigation of asteroids and planetary satellites

The aim is to make radar reconnaissance of near-Earth asteroids, mainbelt ateroids, the Galilean satellites, the Martian satellites, and the largest Saturnian satellites, using the Arecibo 13-cm and the Goldstone 3.5-cm systems. Measurements of echo strength, polarization, and delay/Doppler distribution of echo power provide information about dimensions, spin vector, large-scale topography, cm-to-m-scale morphology, and surface bulk density. The observations also yield refined estimates of target orbital elements. Radar signatures were measured for 31 mainbelt asteroids and 16 near-Earth asteroids since this task began eight years ago. The dispersion in asteroid radar albedoes and circular polarization ratios is extreme, revealing huge differences in surface morphologies, bulk densities, and metal concentration. For the most part, correction between radar signature and VIS/IR class is not high. Many near-Earth asteroids have extremely irregular, nonconvex shapes, but some have polar silhouettes that appear only slightly noncircular. The signatures of 1627 Ivar, 1986 DA, and the approximately 180-km mainbelt asteroid 216 Kleopatra suggest bifurcated shapes. Observational milestones during 1987 and 1988 are noted.

Ostro, Steven J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The meteor radar as a tool for upper atmosphere research

Meteor radar provide measurements of the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere neutral wind field by using the reflection of electromagnetic waves from meteor trails. These radars are relatively inexpensive and provide an excellent means of monitoring the mean winds and tides in the 80 to 100 km region. Recently new techniques were developed to detect meteor echoes from other ground based radar systems operating in the HF/VHF frequency range. The meteor echo information augments the data that are routinely collected by these radars. These new techniques are discussed.

Avery, S. K.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A comparison of radar measurements of atmospheric turbulence intensities by both C sub n sup 2 and spectral width methods

There are two main techniques by which turbulence intensities in the atmosphere can be measured by radars. One is to utilize the absolute backscattered power received by the radar, and use this to deduce C sub n sup 2 (refractivity turbulence structure constant). With appropriate assumptions, this parameter can then be converted to an energy dissipation rate. The second method utilizes the width of the spectrum of the signal received by the radar. Neither of these techniques have been used a great deal, and they have never been properly compared. Thus it was not possible to determine the validity of the assumptions made in applying each technique, nor was it possible to determine the limitations of each method. The first comparisons of the two techniques are presented. Measurements were made with the Adelaide VHF ST radar, and the results of the comparison are discussed.

Hocking, W. K.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Comparison of Shuttle Imaging Radar-B ocean wave image spectra with linear model predictions based on aircraft measurements

During October 1984, coincident Shuttle Imaging Radar-B synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery and wave measurements from airborne instrumentation were acquired. The two-dimensional wave spectrum was measured by both a radar ocean-wave spectrometer and a surface-contour radar aboard the aircraft. In this paper, two-dimensional SAR image intensity variance spectra are compared with these independent measures of ocean wave spectra to verify previously proposed models of the relationship between such SAR image spectra and ocean wave spectra. The results illustrate both the functional relationship between SAR image spectra and ocean wave spectra and the limitations imposed on the imaging of short-wavelength, azimuth-traveling waves.

Monaldo, Frank M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Spaceborne radar remote sensing: Applications and techniques

The operation and applications of spaceborne radars for terrestrial and planetary remote sensing are described in an introduction for advanced students and practicing scientists. Chapters are devoted to imaging radars, wave-surface interactions and geoscientific applications, real- and synthetic-aperture radars, end-to-end system design, SAR data processing, altimeters, and scatterometers. Extensive diagrams, drawings, graphs, photographs, and sample radar images are provided.

Elachi, Charles↗
NASA NTRS1987

Physical properties of asteroids from radar observations

The basic experimental strategies of asteroid radar astronomy are summarized and new information based on recent radar observations about asteroid surface properties is presented. Particular attention is given to the use of radar techniques for constraining asteroid shapes and pole directions. The geometric relationship between a rotating asteroid and its radar echo power spectrum is analyzed.

Ostro, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Multiparameter radar study of a microburst - Comparison with model results

Radar observations and model results are used to investigate the microphysical evolution of an isolated, intense storm observed on July 20, 1988 during the Microburst and Severe Thunderstorm experiment. The storm grew to a height of 14 km and upon collapsing, produced heavy rain, pea-sized hail, and a microburst at the surface. The radar observations indicate that the initial precipitation development was by collision-coalescence. As the storm intensified, accretional growth became dominant leading to rapid precipitation development. Radar-derived rainfall rates peaked around 150 to 190 mm/h. Each morning during the experiment, a two-dimensional, time-dependent cloud model, initialized with the morning sounding, was run. The model results from the July 20 sounding are compared to the radar observations. Good agreement is shown in some aspects of the storm development, although the numerical simulation predicted a more vigorous storm than actually developed.

Tuttle, John D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Phase Calibration Of Radar Polarimetric Data

Technique for phase calibration of data acquired by airborne imaging radar polarimeter based on extraction of calibration parameters from data themselves. Enables use of data-compression technique to reduce volume of data in synthetic-aperture-radar correlator. Typical radar polarimeter includes transmitting and receiving channels for horizontally and vertically polarized signals. Phase delay in each channel usually known only approximately if at all. Consequently, necessary to phase-calibrate radar return signals.

Zebker, Howard A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Geology of Southern Guinevere Planitia, Venus, based on analyses of Goldstone radar data

The ensemble of 41 backscatter images of Venus acquired by the S Band (12.6 cm) Goldstone radar system covers approx. 35 million km and includes the equatorial portion of Guinevere Planitia, Navka Planitia, Heng-O Chasma, and Tinatin Planitia, and parts of Devana Chasma and Phoebe Regio. The images and associated altimetry data combine relatively high spatial resolution (1 to 10 km) with small incidence angles (less than 10 deg) for regions not covered by either Venera Orbiter or Arecibo radar data. Systematic analyses of the Goldstone data show that: (1) Volcanic plains dominate, including groups of small volcanic constructs, radar bright flows on a NW-SE arm of Phoebe Regio and on Ushas Mons and circular volcano-tectonic depressions; (2) Some of the regions imaged by Goldstone have high radar cross sections, including the flows on Ushas Mons and the NW-SE arm of Phoebe Regio, and several other unnamed hills, ridged terrains, and plains areas; (3) A 1000 km diameter multiringed structure is observed and appears to have a morphology not observed in Venera data (The northern section corresponds to Heng-O Chasma); (4) A 150 km wide, 2 km deep, 1400 km long rift valley with upturned flanks is located on the western flank of Phoebe Regio and extends into Devana Chasma; (5) A number of structures can be discerned in the Goldstone data, mainly trending NW-SE and NE-SW, directions similar to those discerned in Pioneer-Venus topography throughout the equatorial region; and (6) The abundance of circular and impact features is similar to the plains global average defined from Venera and Arecibo data, implying that the terrain imaged by Goldstone has typical crater retention ages, measured in hundreds of millions of years. The rate of resurfacing is less than or equal to 4 km/Ga.

Arvidson, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Contrasting landform perception with varied radar illumination geometries and at simulated resolutions of Venera and Magellan

The high sensitivity of imaging radars to slope at moderate to low incidence angles enhances the perception of linear topography on images. It reveals broad spatial patterns that are essential to landform mapping and interpretation. As radar responses are strongly directional, the ability to discriminate linear features on images varies with their orientation. Landforms that appear prominent on images where they are transverse to the illumination may be obscure to indistinguishable on images where they are parallel to it. Landform detection is also influenced by the spatial resolution in radar images. Seasat radar images of the Gran Desierto Dunes complex, Sonora, Mexico; the Appalachian Valley and Ridge Province; and accreted terranes in eastern interior Alaska were processed to simulate both Venera 15 and 16 images (1000 to 3000 km resolution) and image data expected from the Magellan mission (120 to 300 m resolution. The Gran Desierto Dunes are not discernable in the Venera simulation, whereas the higher resolution Magellan simulation shows dominant dune patterns produced from differential erosion of the rocks. The Magellan simulation also shows that fluvial processes have dominated erosion and exposure of the folds.

Ford, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Radar scattering from desert terrains, Pisgah/Lavic Region, California: Implications for Magellan

A major component of the 1988 Mojave Field Experiment involved the simultaneous acquisition of quad-polarization multifrequency airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging radar data and ground measurements thought to be relevant to the radar scattering behavior of a variety of desert surfaces. In preparation for the Magellan mission to Venus, the experiment was designed to explore the ability of SAR to distinguish types of geological surfaces, and the effects of varying incidence angles on the appearance of such surfaces. The airborne SAR system acquired images at approx. 10 m resolution, at 3 incidence angles (30, 40, 50 degs) and at 3 wavelengths (P:68 cm, L:24 cm, C:5.6 cm). The polarimetric capabilities of the instrument allow the simulation of any combination of transmit and receive polarizations during data reduction. Calibrated trihedral corner reflectors were deployed within each scene to permit absolute radiometric calibration of the image data. Initial analyses of this comprehensive radar data set is reported, with emphasis on implications for interpretation of Magellan data.

Plaut, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Coherent radar measurement of ocean currents from geostationary orbit

A coherent HF radar system developed by Barrick has successfully measured ocean surface currents near shore. This innovative system, called CODAR, can map the current vector for coastal areas as large as 10,000 sq km. CODAR's range is limited owing to the strong attenuation suffered by HF ground waves. An alternate technique was proposed by Schuler, in which the cross-product power spectrum of two (different frequency) microwave signals is processed. The frequency of the resonant peak corresponds close by to the Doppler shift of an ocean gravity wave traveling toward the radar at the phase velocity, v(sub p). The slight difference between the frequency of the measured resonant delta K peak and the Doppler frequency shift caused by the motion of the gravity wave is attributed to be the current velocity in the pointing direction of the radar. The Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MIRSL) has considered the feasibility of using this technique to measure ocean surface currents from geostationary satellite platforms. Problems are discussed that must be overcome if a satellite current measurement system is to be realized. MIRSL research activities that address some of these problem areas are discussed. Current measurements are presented that were made using a specially-designed C-Band, step-frequency delta K radar. These measurements suggest that progress is being achieved in detecting ocean surface current motion for a wide variety of ocean surface conditions.

Mcintosh, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Users guide for an Airborne Windshear Doppler Radar Simulation (AWDRS) program

A description is provided of the Airborne Windshear Doppler Radar Simulation (AWDRS) program developed for NASA-Langley by the Research Triangle Institute. The radar simulation program is a comprehensive calculation of the signal characteristics and expected outputs of an airborne coherent pulsed Doppler radar system viewing a low level microburst along or near the approach path of the aircraft. The detailed nature of the simulation permits the quick evaluation of proposed trade-offs in radar system parameters and the evaluation of the performance of proposed configurations in various microburst/clutter environments. The simulation also provides a test bed for various proposed signal processing techniques for minimizing the effects of noise, phase jitter, and ground clutter and maximizing the useful information derived for avoidance of microburst windshear by aircraft.

Britt, Charles L.↗