
Open access
Date
2017-12-05Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited null times in
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Cited 4 times in
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ETH Bibliography
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Abstract
Multipath interference can occur in ground-based radar data acquired with systems with a large antenna beam width in elevation in an upward looking geometry, where the observation area and the radar are separated by a reflective surface. Radiation reflected at this surface forms a coherent overlay with the direct image of the observation area and appears as a fringe-like pattern in the data. This deteriorates the phase and intensity data and therefore can pose a considerable disadvantage to many ground-based radar measurement campaigns. This poses a problem for physical parameter retrieval from backscatter intensity and polarimetric data, absolute and relative calibration on corner reflectors, the generation of digital elevation models from interferograms and in the case of a variable reflective surface, differential interferometry. The main parameters controlling the interference pattern are the vertical distance between the radar antennas and the reflective surface, and the reflectivity of this surface. We used datasets acquired in two different locations under changing conditions as well as a model to constrain and fully understand the phenomenon. To avoid data deterioration in test sites prone to multipath interference, we tested a shielding of the antennas preventing the radar waves from illuminating the reflective surface. In our experiment, this strongly reduced but did not completely prevent the interference. We therefore recommend avoiding measurement geometries prone to multipath interferences. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000220978Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Remote SensingVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
MDPISubject
radar; interference; interferometry; reflection; multipath interferenceOrganisational unit
03849 - Hajnsek, Irena / Hajnsek, Irena
Funding
156014 - Monitoring avalanches and snowpacks with two ground based polarimetric and interferometric radars (SNF)
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Citations
Cited null times in
Web of Science
Cited 4 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics