Refractivity inversions from point-to-point X-Band radar propagation measurements

Dynamic refractive environments within the marine atmospheric boundary
layer (MABL) pose difficulties in the prediction of super high frequency
(SHF), specifically X-band, radar wave propagation due to natural
phenomena such as evaporation ducts (ED). This study utilizes a unique
dataset collected during the CASPER-East field campaign, including
multiple refractivity estimation methods and twelve point-to-point (PTP)
electromagnetic datasets, to assess the efficacy of PTP inversion
techniques for remote sensing of atmospheric refractivity within the MABL.
Comparison of refractivity between the inverse and other refractivity
methods show reasonable evaporation duct height estimates by the
inversion, and inverse-based propagation predictions are also shown to be
more accurate than propagation based on other refractivity prediction
methods – numerical weather prediction, theory, and in-situ atmospheric
measurements. These results propose the effectiveness of a PTP
metaheuristic radar inversion to remotely sense refractive environments
from radar propagation measurements in stable and unstable atmospheric
conditions.