Surface clutter due to antenna sidelobes for spaceborne atmospheric radar

Abstract

8 18)393-5285/sdurden@jpl.nasa.gov ABSTRACT A spacebome radar for atmospheric observation must be able to detect atmospheric backscatter in the presence of clutter due to antenna sidelobes. Here, we analyze the problem in detail, deriving a method for computing clutter which includes effects of all contributing transmit pulses, Doppler shifting, finite receiver bandwidth, and curved earth's surface. The results are applied to analysis of existing radars and design of future radar systems.