Implementation of frequency domain interferometry at the SOUSY VHF radar: First results

Frequency domain interferometry (FDI) provides a means of identifying the altitude and width of atmospheric scattering layers with an increased range resolution over conventional pulsed radar measurements. The technique was first formally introduced in 1987 and has since been used in the study of scattering layers from the lower troposphere to the upper mesosphere. Despite its success, FDI has only been implemented on a few atmospheric radars. We present here the first results of FDI measurements conducted at the sounding system (SOUSY) VHF radar in Germany. The flexibility of the SOUSY radar permits simultaneous sampling of regions of the atmosphere using both single and coded pulses, thus facilitating a comparison of the resulting coherences. We present here FDI data obtained during 14 continuous hours of radar operation. The FDI technique is shown to be capable of consistently predicting the location and thickness of atmospheric scattering layers. Such information is important when studying turbulence, scattering mechanisms, and fine-scale structures in the atmosphere.