Optimal polarizations for distributed random targets-statistical analysis of polarimetric DFVLR radar data

The topic of optimal polarizations for extended random targets is considered in the context of weather radar applications. Polarimetric radar measurements of rain clouds and clear air chaff distributions (artificial dipoles) are discussed in some detail. All obtainable information about the backscattered signals can be deduced by statistical analysis of the polarimetric radar data with due regard to the statistical nature of the scattering process, representing a stationary ergodic random process with multivariate normal statistics. It is concluded that techniques of optimizing scattering signals from deterministic simple targets in clutter or the detection of chaff particles distributed in precipitation volumes for atmospheric research can be improved by exploiting measured polarimetric target features of chaff and rain.<>