RADAR DETECTION OF THE SEA BREEZE

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Abstract
Radar and meteorological observations of four sea-breeze cases are presented. A clear-cut association between the echoes and the meteorological events is demonstrated. Where direct measurements are not available, the echo patterns are consistent with a rational physical picture of the sea breeze. Birds, insects, and other particulate matter are precluded by a combination of direct observation of the small pulse volume, by echo magnitude considerations, and by echo pattern. Scattering theory can account for the magnitude of the coherent layer echoes on the vertical beam, at the sea-breeze inversion with large but reasonable refractive-index gradients of 4 to 9 N units per cm or with vapor gradients of about 1 to 2 mb per cm. Incoherent echoes on the horizontal beam appear to come from vapor sheaths of large radius of curvature, with index gradients of similar magnitude, which are oriented parallel to the sea-breeze front. While this unusual result is supported by the streamer-form echo patterns an... Abstract Radar and meteorological observations of four sea-breeze cases are presented. A clear-cut association between the echoes and the meteorological events is demonstrated. Where direct measurements are not available, the echo patterns are consistent with a rational physical picture of the sea breeze. Birds, insects, and other particulate matter are precluded by a combination of direct observation of the small pulse volume, by echo magnitude considerations, and by echo pattern. Scattering theory can account for the magnitude of the coherent layer echoes on the vertical beam, at the sea-breeze inversion with large but reasonable refractive-index gradients of 4 to 9 N units per cm or with vapor gradients of about 1 to 2 mb per cm. Incoherent echoes on the horizontal beam appear to come from vapor sheaths of large radius of curvature, with index gradients of similar magnitude, which are oriented parallel to the sea-breeze front. While this unusual result is supported by the streamer-form echo patterns an...

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