MODELING RADAR PROPAGATION OVER TERRAIN

Mathematical techniques are presented for modeling electromagnetic pro pagation over an irregular boundary. The techniques are aimed at upgra ding the Applied Physics Laboratory's Tropospheric Electromagnetic Par abolic Equation Routine (TEMPER) model for radar propagation over terr ain. The physical domain with an irregular boundary is mapped to a rec tangular domain, where a numerical solution can be generated by the sa me approach used in TEMPER. This new method is applied to several mode l terrain problems and shown to be accurate and practical for a reason able range of surface slopes. Interesting results are discussed for th e shadowing of radar by terrain obstacles and the detection of low-fly ing targets over mountainous terrain.