Millimeterwave propagation within boundary layers over sea comparison of modelling and experimental data

Abstract

The performance of sensors operating within the marine boundary layer is severely influenced by the actual atmospheric conditions and the sea surface. Propagation models are in existence, which cope with the varying environment and allow a performance prediction for sensors in different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Model calculations give evidence for a complementary performance of sensors operating in the IR region and at millimeterwaves (35/94 GHz). To validate existing radar propagation models like TERPEM and to compare IR and mm-wave propagation over sea under various atmospherical conditions, joint experiments were conducted over transmission ranges well beyond the horizon, assisted by a careful characterization of the environment. This paper describes the experimental approach and gives representative results for measurement and simulation. The implications on performance especially for a multispectral (IR/mmW) approach are discussed.

Radar propagation in coastal environments: Vampira results

“…This was already found during earlier experiments [4]. A general result of the radar experiments is, that for maximum range also millimeterwave radar should be taken into account.…”

Simultaneous characterization of propagation within the marine boundary layer at X-, Ka- and W-band

“…This was already found during earlier experiments [5], however not in a universal kind as found during this experiment were simultaneously a quite distributed set of experimental parameters, distinguished by frequency and geometry, was sampled. A general result of the radar experiments is, that for maximum range also a millimeterwave radar should be taken into account.…”

IR propagation through the marine boundary layer: comparison of model and experimental data

“…Moreover, investigations should be made whether multi-spectral mm-wave / IR-sensors exhibit complementary performance leading to a combined optimal achievement with respect to detection range. The results of FWG and FGAN-FHR are to be found in the previous papers [3] and [4], respectively.…”

“…This is illustrated by the following examples. For two different meteorological conditions the Radar propagation model TERPEM (see [4]) and the IR propagation model IRBLEM [5] were run. Fig.…”