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Second‐order multiple‐scattering theory associated with backscattering enhancement for a millimeter wavelength weather radar with a finite beam width
Author(s) -
Kobayashi Satoru,
Tanelli Simone,
Im Eastwood
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/2004rs003219
Subject(s) - scattering , optics , radar , wavelength , physics , millimeter , backscatter (email) , antenna (radio) , beamwidth , scattering theory , computational physics , telecommunications , computer science , wireless
Effects of multiple scattering on reflectivity are studied for millimeter wavelength weather radars. A time‐independent vector theory, including up to second‐order scattering, is derived for a single layer of hydrometeors of a uniform density and a uniform diameter. In this theory, spherical waves with a Gaussian antenna pattern are used to calculate ladder and cross terms in the analytical scattering theory. The former terms represent the conventional multiple scattering, while the latter terms cause backscattering enhancement in both the copolarized and cross‐polarized components. As the optical thickness of the hydrometeor layer increases, the differences from the conventional plane wave theory become more significant, and essentially, the reflectivity of multiple scattering depends on the ratio of mean free path to radar footprint radius. These results must be taken into account when analyzing radar reflectivity for use in remote sensing.