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3.4 RADAR Target Detection Characteristics

Characteristics of radar targets are being listed.

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25 views24 pages

3.4 RADAR Target Detection Characteristics

Characteristics of radar targets are being listed.

Uploaded by

snqobelebongeka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MARINE RADAR

TARGET DETECTION
TARGET CHARACTERISTICS Ch 13
1. HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL
Higher targets are detected further away than lower objects.

2. HORIZONTAL SIZE
A large horizontal size means a large echoing surface and better
detection range.
TARGET CHARACTERISTICS
3. COMPOSITION
Hard substances provide better reflection than soft substances.
The ascending order for good reflection is: wood, concrete, rock
and metal.

4. NATURE OF SURFACE
A smooth surface must be perpendicular to the scanner for a
good return. A rough surface could return echoes from all angles.
TARGET CHARACTERISTICS
5. ASPECT
Aspect is the angle from which a target is viewed. It is own ship’s
relative bearing as seen from the target and is expressed as
Green or Red from 0° to 180°.
WEATHER EFFECTS Ch 14
1. DRIZZLE
Small droplets of water cause limited effects and targets are usually not
affected.

2. RAIN
Rainfall areas show up clearly and heavy downpours can be mistaken for
land areas. The FTC control or ACC (Automatic clutter control) should be
used.
WEATHER EFFECTS
3. HAIL
Attenuation due to hail is usually much less than with rain, although
large hail stones give stronger echoes than rainfall.

4. SNOW
In cold climates snowfalls are not as effective as rain unless it is
extremely heavy.
WEATHER EFFECTS
5. FOG
Echoes from fog particles are negligible but attenuation of the
radar signal in dense fog will decrease detection ranges.

6. SANDSTORMS
Although optical visibility is reduced there is no adverse effect on
radar performance.
ANOMALOUS PROPAGATION Ch 15
SUB-REFRACTION

This occurs when temperature falls at a greater rate than the


standard lapse rate with height above sea level. This causes radar
waves to bend upwards and reduce the radar horizon.
Sub-refraction occurs when a cold breeze blows over a relatively
warm sea. Page 67.
ANOMALOUS PROPAGATION
SUPER-REFRACTION

This occurs when temperature falls at a slower rate than the


standard lapse rate with height. The radar waves bend more than
usual and touch the earth’s surface beyond the radar horizon.
This occurs when a warm breeze blows over a relatively cold sea.
Page 67.
ANOMALOUS PROPAGATION
DUCTING

This occurs when there is a temperature inversion forming a duct


above the earth’s surface. Waves from the scanner are refracted
downwards sharply then reflected upwards from the sea surface
and this continues to form a severe super-refraction called
ducting. See page 67.
SHADOW AREAS AND SECTORS, AND
BLIND SECTORS Ch 16
SHADOW AREAS
Targets lying in areas beyond a large target are in shadow areas.
See illustration at the top of page 69.

SHADOW AND BLIND SECTORS


Shipboard structures may obstruct the radar transmission.
However, modern ship designs ensure these are limited.
RADAR PICTURE AND THE CHART Ch 17
COASTAL FEATURES
When navigating along a coast the picture on the PPI may be
different to that of the chart, with gaps where low lying areas
are not shown. See page 73.

MOUNTAINS
A cliff below the highest point (spot height) of a mountain may
give a good echo. See page 72.
RADAR PICTURE
SHADOW AREAS
Shadow areas behind large targets change with aspect as the
ship progresses along a coastline. See page 73.

HEIGHT OF TIDE
The charted coastline is drawn for MHWS, but the radar picture
is for the current state of the tide. A sandy shore will not
provide the same picture as a rocky shore. Also, rocks may be
covered at high tide and uncover at low tide. See page 74.
SPURIOUS ECHOES Chapter 18.
EXTERNAL AIDS Chapter 20

RADAR REFLECTORS
A simple reflector consists of triangular plates at right angles to each
other. This allows any incoming rays to return in the opposite direction.
EXTERNAL AIDS

RACON
A Racon is a radar transponder beacon, and the name is derived from
Radar Beacon.
A Racon amplifies any incoming radar pulses and they return to the
scanner as a strong signal. The signal creates an exclamation mark on
the display and the dot part is the location of the Racon. See page 84.
If more than one Racon is in the same area, each will have a signal that
appears as a Morse signal, which identifies the particular Racon.
EXTERNAL AIDS - RACON
EXTERNAL AIDS

SART
A Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) is a portable device used in
lifeboats or liferafts to respond to radar signals of ships in the vicinity.
When the SART receives X Band (3cm) radar waves it responds by
sending 12 pulses in the return direction. The search vessel will see a
line of 12 blips on the radar screen which provides a position and
bearing of the lifeboat.
A description of a SART is on page 87.
EXTERNAL AIDS - SART

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