A Study of Solar Method Azimuth

The antenna performance parameter of weather radar, an extremely significant part of radar constant, which directly influences the measurement accuracy of radar echo intensity. Therefore, antenna test always be considered as an important step in radar inspection and calibration. But, a high placement position required to the new generation weather radar and a iron tower installation needed to the far-field test, are always both brings great inconvenience in the regular or irregular examination of antenna. This paper discusses the method of testing weather radar antenna by using the sun as a signal source, relevant principles or methods in detail, and algorithm of solar optical angular diameter. Improves the solar method azimuth beam width correction algorithm through analyzing the phonomenon that the azimuth beam width changed with the solar elevation angle in solar method. Analyzes the measurement error and accuracy of the sun method by measuring a antenna of X-band weather radar in Chengdu University of Information Technology. The results show that the antenna beam width measurement becomes more stable and the measurement accuracy shows greatly improved by using the azimuth beam width correction algorithm in solar method. Compared with the antenna far-field test, the solar method presents the advantages of low cost, simple operation and high measurement accuracy, and has a wide application prospect in the field of weather radar antenna testing.