Refractivity estimation from radar clutter by sequential importance sampling with a Markov model for microwave propagation

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of estimating range-varying parameters of the height-dependent index of refraction over the sea surface in order to predict ducted microwave propagation loss. Refractivity estimation is performed using a Markov model for microwave radar clutter returns from the sea surface. Specifically, the parabolic approximation for numerical solution of the wave equation is used to formulate the problem within a nonlinear recursive Bayesian state estimation framework. Solution for the conditional expectation of range-varying refractivity, given log-amplitude clutter versus range data, is achieved using a sequential importance sampling technique. Simulation results are presented which demonstrate the ability of this approach to synoptically estimate range-varying refractivity parameters by "through-the-sensor" remote sensing.