Calibration of a polarimetric radar using a rotatable dihedral corner reflector

• Published in: IEEE transactions on geoscience and remote sensing Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 837 - 845
• Main Authors: Unal, C.M.H., Niemeijer, R.J., van Sinttruyen, J.S., Ligthart, L.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.07.1994; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Antenna measurements; Areal geology. Maps; Calibration; Doppler radar; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Geologic maps, cartography; Geophysics. Techniques, methods, instrumentation and models; Polarization; Radar antennas; Radar measurements; Radar polarimetry; Radar remote sensing; Radar scattering; Receiving antennas; Methodology; Backscattering; Calibration; Polarimetry; Experimental study; Scattering matrix; radar methods; Remote sensing
• ISSN: 0196-2892; 1558-0644
• DOI: 10.1109/36.298011

Based on the existing mathematical formalisms of radar polarimetry, it is necessary to perform accurate and diversified polarimetric measurements in the real world to thoroughly investigate signature definition, identification, and classification of radar targets. For this study the Delft Atmospheric Research Radar (DARR) is used. This ground-based polarimetric FM-CW radar operates in the S-band. The purpose of the present paper is the polarimetric calibration of the DARR. Among the passive reflectors, a rotatable dihedral corner reflector is a suitable calibration object. It enables one to measure different scattering matrices with only one reflector. One alignment must be performed and the scattering matrices are measured at the same range. By measuring several scattering matrices, the accuracy of the calibration result can be estimated. A measurement campaign with a rotatable dihedral corner reflector was therefore performed. The experimental results and the calibration procedure are presented in this paper.< >