Weather radar anomalous propagation conditions at central region of Cuba. A descriptive study and possible ways to mitigate its undesirable effects

The Meteorological Center of Camaguey operates a non-coherent weather radar (MRL-5M type), which was reengineered and modernized in 1997. The Camaguey Radar Station, located in the center of a vast plain at the central region of Cuba, has frequently reported anomalous propagation cases. This unpredictable ground echo contaminates precipitation measurements, producing false hydrologic products in some areas affected. Manual detection and elimination of ground echoes produced by anomalous propagation is a time-consuming task, that radar operator not always is able to perform.

The paper describes the weather conditions, the geographic areas and the elevations scans for which anomalous propagation is most prone to occur. Besides the paper describes the ongoing efforts to manually detect and the possible ways for automatic detection and mitigation of the problem of anomalous propagation for the Camaguey Weather Radar.