Electromagnetic correlation in two channel radar systems: Theory and measurement at linear polarization

In remote sensing of precipitation many conventional radars measure only the intensity of the backscattered radiation, often at linear polarization of fixed orientation. Over the last few years there has been increased interest in radars with more capabilities. Polarization diversity radars are capable of decomposing the received wave into two mutually orthogonal components, and thus more of the information content of the backscattered wave can be exploited. The National Research Council of Canada polarization diversity radars, situated in Ottawa, are capable of measuring the backscattered powers at two orthogonal polarizations, and they also measure the complex correlation between these two received components.