Poststatistic steering (PSS) techniques are applied for estimating the
wind vector. Since spatially separated receivers can be used to synth
esize a radar beam in an arbitrary direction, Doppler beam swinging (D
BS) techniques can be used in conjunction with PSS to obtain estimates
of the wind vector. Data obtained with the middle and upper atmospher
e (MU) radar in Japan are used to implement the technique in the tropo
sphere and lower stratosphere at a VHF wavelength. To obtain an accura
te estimate of the beam-pointing direction, the synthesized two-way an
tenna pattern is calculated. Also, the effects of aspect sensitivity o
n this technique are explored. The mode of operation of the MU radar w
as alternated between a typical DBS mode and a spatial interferometric
(SI) mode, which was used for the PSS technique. Results from the PSS
method of obtaining the wind vector are compared to the DBS results,
which are assumed to be an accurate representation of the atmospheric
wind. This study suggests that aspect sensitivity causes an underestim
ate of the horizontal wind using PSS. Corrections were made using the
aspect sensitivity functions obtained from the DBS experiment and the
corrected PSS velocities compare well with the DBS velocities. The ver
tical velocity estimate using a vertically pointing beam is shown to p
ossess a gravity wave characteristic which is due solely to contaminat
ion from the horizontal wind.