A comparison of predicted and measured environmental effects on a microwave radar range

The instrumentation system used to monitor the environment to determine its effects on the vertical signal distribution of a microwave radar reflection range is described. Path-averaged refractivity changes derived from observed intensity fluctuations were significantly smaller than the refractivity changes obtained from the meteorological data. Signal intensity changes measured at ten different heights were compared with the predicted intensity changes obtained from calculations which used the measured refractivity profile. The model predicts the observed nocturnal changes but overestimates the magnitude of the change.<
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