Waveform Parameter Advice: a clutter evaluation tool for high frequency surface wave radar

HF surface wave radar (HFSWR) is a unique sensor offering a reliable method of obtaining target detection from beyond the conventional radar horizon. By employing vertically polarised antennas launching radiation over a saline water surface, the radar energy can be made to follow the curvature of the Earth. This paper describes a software tool (Waveform Parameter Advice or WPA) for mitigating the detrimental effect on HFSWR performance from unwanted ionospheric clutter returns. The tool has a variety of displays and processing options, and forms in its own right a useful device for recording and analysing ionospheric activity as seen by an HFSWR.