Radar Performance Modelling; A study of radar performance assessment accuracy to the resolution of atmospheric input data. Case studies of North Sea environments

Abstract

Radars are vital systems for the navy as they are the primary systems for the detection, tracking and sometimes classification of friendly and hostile targets. It is therefore important that navies can assess the radar’s performance under the prevailing conditions. The atmosphere can significantly alter the radar’s performance from standard. Nowadays computer models can fairly accurately predict radar performance if sufficient atmospheric input data is available. While many studies are dedicated to accurately model radar performance, little has yet been done to define how accurate and how high in resolution atmospheric data must be to suffice as input for accurate radar performance prediction. My study takes preliminary steps into finding horizontal and temporal resolution requirements for different weather conditions. The study is particularly of interest to the Royal Netherlands Navy as they currently predict radar performance with a single vertical profile and thereby assume that the atmosphere is horizontally homogenous. My thesis clearly shows that using a single profile can result in erroneous radar performance predictions. In these cases 3D dimensional data is required, which, for example, numerical weather prediction models can obtain. In additions to the description of my topic above, I have attached my abstract and preface. I have also attached a figure that shows an example of the error that can occur when using a single profile rather that 3D atmospheric input data