The Scattering of Radio Waves by Meteorological Particles

Abstract

The scattering of electromagnetic waves by clouds of small spheroidal obstacles is considered from a theoretical standpoint. Numerical data are obtained for the case of clouds composed of partly melted ice particles. These results are applied to the interpretation of ``bright band'' radar echoes from meteorological formations. It is also shown that these echoes may contain a component with polarization at right angles to that of the transmitted beam. It is suggested that this property could be utilized in certain cases to provide additional information as to the nature of the scattering particles.