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.