The effect of signal saturation on wind velocity estimates using MF radar signals

Abstract We used Yamagawa MF radar signals to investigate to what extent saturated distortion of received signals affect wind velocity estimates. We investigated it through off-line computer programs by clipping these actual archived signals at various levels artificially. The results of the analysis are as follows: As a whole, wind velocity estimates calculated under very severe saturated conditions such as −30 dB from the signal peak levels are not so different from ones with no saturation. But in some cases we found that wind velocity estimates even under slightly saturated conditions such as −2 dB or −2.5 dB from the signal peak levels become more than several hundred or thousand meters per second. The reason is discussed in this paper.