Evaluations on Chinese Next Generation Radars Coverage and Terrain Blockage Based on SRTM Data

With Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 3second high resolution terrain data, the terrain blockage and coverage of ChInese Next generation RADars (CINRADs) are computed, and the theoretical results correspond with real radar echoes fairly well. In order to quantitatively assess the detecting ability of CINRADs, the authors proposed and illustrated three factors，that is coverage ratio, height-area index, and its equivalent radius. Finally, an overall assessment was given on the 158 CINRADs coverage over China，that is the coverage ratios of three height levels (1 km, 2 km, and 3 km above ground level) are 16.9%, 38.8%, and 52.8%, respectively. The Tibetan Plateau and the northwestern part of China are relatively less covered, while the eastern part (22°N-42°N, 102°E-120°E) are well covered with ratios of 27.1%, 59.8%, and 76.8%, respectively. As to 3km above ground level, the coastal areas have 2radar coverage overlapping and the eastern and northern parts of China have 2-4radar coverage overlapping; the center part of the Inner Mongolia and the north eastern part of China have 1-2radar coverage overlapping.