Proposed monocycle-pulse very-high-frequency radar for air-borne ice and snow measurement

Synoposis: It is suggested that a single electromagnetic pulse having a length in space of the order of a meter can be radiated and received by low-Q (broad-banded) antennas. Rough calculations indicate that peak powers of 100 kw probably can be generated with existing electronic components, capable of producing usable signal returns from large semispecular surfaces at distances of the order of miles. The resulting “untuned all-video-radar system” would constitute an electromagnetic analogy to the well-known seismic reflection method of geophysical prospecting, in which a single compressional acoustic pulse (under ideal conditions) is emitted isotropically and reflections are received from successive extensive, flat-lying, reflecting surfaces. A single vhf (very-high-frequency) pulse should combine the advantage of good distance resolution with less tendency than microwaves to be absorbed or scattered by the imperfections in natural materials. Preliminary experiments at 125 mc (megacycles) indicate that interfaces less than 60 cm (centimeters) apart could be so resolved. The development and initial application of the method as a rapid air-borne method of profiling the thicknesses of radio-transparent layered materials, such as floating fresh-water ice (for aircraft landing areas) and the polar continental ice sheets. Potential applications in high-speed extraterrestrial communication may also exist.