Method of compensating for atmospheric effects while using near horizon radar utilizing a doppler signal

Abstract

A method of compensating for atmospheric effects to detect the actual location of low elevation objects using near horizon radar to detect an object which utilizes a preexisting satellite structured to send a signal indicating the position and velocity of said satellite, wherein the location of the satellite is known. The method includes a step of providing a radar site, a first receiver structured to receive a signal from the satellite indicating an apparent location of the satellite, and a second receiver, located at a distance from the radar site, structured to receive the satellite signal and which indicates the observed location of the satellite. The first receiver is utilized to receive a signal from the satellite when the satellite is at a low elevation. This signal indicates the apparent location and velocity of the satellite. The bending angle can then be determined by comparing the apparent location data of the satellite as determined by the first receiver to the observed location data of the satellite. The satellite signal is used to determine the Doppler shift of the signal at the radar site as compared to the signal from the observed location. The Doppler shift data is used to determine the bending angle. Once the bending angle of the atmosphere is determined, the radar is used to detect the apparent location data of a low elevation object. The location of the low elevation object can then be determined by applying the bending angle to the apparent location data of the object.