A novel ground-clutter-contamination mitigation solution for the NEXRAD network: the CLEAN-AP filter

A common dilemma in obtaining quality meteorological-variable estimates using Doppler weather radar is the application (or misapplication) of ground clutter filters (GCF) to mitigate contamination from ground returns. Typically, weather radars use static clutter maps (i.e., pre-identified clutter contaminated regions) to control the application of the GCF. Ideally, the GCF should only be applied if the ground clutter contamination obscures the weather estimate. However, the problem of applying the GCF becomes very complex considering the dynamic atmospheric effects on radar beam propagation. A recent spectral technique has been suggested that provides both automated detection and application of ground clutter filtering: the Clutter Environment Analysis using Adaptive Processing (CLEAN-AP) filter.

In this paper, we show the clutter detection and mitigation performance of the CLEAN-AP filter using time-series data from the national network of weather surveillance radars (WSR-88D). This performance will be contrasted against other techniques currently employed by the WSR 88D to mitigate ground clutter contamination.