Spatial-Temporal Differential Analysis for Profiling the Atmosphere, 1, Theoretical Background

We introduce a conceptually new method for processing multiple synchronized radar signals. The method is referred to as spatial-temporal differential analysis (STDA) and it operates with increments of signals from multiple receive channels at small spatial and temporal separations. To improve the radar detection and tracking capabilities, STDA takes advantage of the signal scintillations, which are regarded as a harmful phenomenon by conventional signal processing methods. To introduce the concept of STDA, we consider a specific task; measuring mean horizontal winds and turbulence with atmospheric wind profilers. We present a simplified technique for spaced antenna profiling radars which is based on structure functions which are statistical moments of the increments in a space-time domain. We demonstrate that STDA "senses" different characteristics of scatterers than conventional spectra and correlation function-based methods do. This new concept enables reliable measurement of characteristics of the atmosphere in the presence of strong clutter as well as comprehensive measurements of atmospheric turbulence which no other known methodology can provide