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Watkins, B. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Watkins, B. J..

6 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Antenna induced range smearing in MST radars

There is considerable interest in developing stratosphere troposphere (ST) and mesosphere stratosphere troposphere (MST) radars for higher resolution to study small-scale turbulent structures and waves. At present most ST and MST radars have resolutions of 150 meters or larger, and are not able to distinguish the thin (40 - 100 m) turbulent layers that are known to occur in the troposphere and stratosphere, and possibly in the mesosphere. However the antenna beam width and sidelobe level become important considerations for radars with superior height resolution. The objective of this paper is to point out that for radars with range resolutions of about 150 meters or less, there may be significant range smearing of the signals from mesospheric altitudes due to the finite beam width of the radar antenna. At both stratospheric and mesospheric heights the antenna sidelobe level for lear equally spaced phased arrays may also produce range aliased signals. To illustrate this effect the range smearing functions for two vertically directed antennas have been calculated, (1) an array of 32 coaxial-collinear strings each with 48 elements that simulates the vertical beam of the Poker Flat, Glaska, MST radar; and (2) a similar, but smaller, array of 16 coaxial-collinear strings each with 24 elements.

Watkins, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The Sondrestrom radar: Progress and proposed upgrades for ST work

The capabilities and limitations of the Sondrestrom Radar for stratosphere-troposphere ST observations were previously presented. Recent progress and proposed upgrades are summarized. During the first year of operation (April 1983 to April 1984) there was only one ST experiment, mainly with the objective of evaluating the site and determining that the hardare and software were still operational after the radar's move from Alaska. The Sondrestrom site has about the same degree of ground clutter as the former Chatanika site and the data appear to be similar. The radar's operation continues to be incoherent-scatter observations of the ionosphere. The main radar parameters are summarized.

Watkins, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The economics of data acquisition computers for ST and MST radars

Some low cost options for data acquisition computers for ST (stratosphere, troposphere) and MST (mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere) are presented. The particular equipment discussed reflects choices made by the University of Alaska group but of course many other options exist. The low cost microprocessor and array processor approach presented here has several advantages because of its modularity. An inexpensive system may be configured for a minimum performance ST radar, whereas a multiprocessor and/or a multiarray processor system may be used for a higher performance MST radar. This modularity is important for a network of radars because the initial cost is minimized while future upgrades will still be possible at minimal expense. This modularity also aids in lowering the cost of software development because system expansions should rquire little software changes. The functions of the radar computer will be to obtain Doppler spectra in near real time with some minor analysis such as vector wind determination.

Watkins, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Capabilities and limitations of the Sondrestrom radar for ST observations

The Sondrestrom radar is located on the western side of Greenland near the U.S. air base and Danish community at Sondre Stromfjord. The radar was previously located at Chatanika, Alaska where its primary role was incoherent-scatter studies of the auroral ionosphere. Stratosphere/troposphere studies have occupied a very small portion of the radar observing schedule. The high operating frequency (1290 MHz) implies that the radar may only be used for turbulence-scatter studies in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. While the inner scale sizes of turbulence imply that the radar should be able to obtain data up to at least 20 km, in practice about 15 km seems to be the usual limit, due to lack of system sensitivity. However, this upper height limit varies from day to day and data have been obtained up to 23 km when a long (50 micro sec) pulse has been used. At high latitudes the tropopause is typically about 8 to 11 km altitude, therefore the radar is particularly suited to studies at tropopause heights. Additionally capabilities and limitations are discussed along with transmitter, receiver and antenna characteristics.

Watkins, B. J.↗