On Large Ground Station Antennas as Potential Radar Targets for Biomass

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential of large ground station antennas to serve as radar targets for biomass detection, analyzing their radar cross-section at various frequencies and implications for SAR data interpretation.

Contribution

It presents an analysis of the radar cross-section of large ground station antennas at different frequencies, highlighting their potential as radar targets for biomass monitoring.

Findings

High RCS of ground station antennas confirmed at 5.3 GHz

Potential use of large antennas in arrays for biomass detection

Implications for interpreting SAR data from space-based radar

Abstract

Radio-telescopes or ground-station antennas can, if pointed, act as a radar target with high radar cross-section (RCS). Space-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data confirmed it at 5:3GHz for a modified ground-station antenna. Operational ground-station antennas cannot be modified. The latter antennas might operate at frequencies well above the radar band. The radar signal could be scattered with high RCS from such an antenna, with less influence due to a load (receiver). The antenna geometry should be precisely known to derive its RCS. BIOMASS SAR operates near 435 MHz (P-band). Results are given, also for BIOMASS antenna itself. Large antennas in an array as in Westerbork are of potential interest, located on an East-West line, nearly perpendicular to ascending and descending polar orbits. Related material is discussed.