System and method for ice detection

摘要

A hazard warning or weather radar system or method can be utilized to determine a location of ice. The system and method can be used in an aircraft. The aircraft weather radar system can include a radar antenna and a processor. The radar antenna receives radar returns. The processor can: 1. identify on a display a region of potential ice associated with a blow off region in response to the radar returns, temperature data, and wind data; 2. identify on a display a region of potential ice associated with a stratiform region in response to radar returns, temperature data, and a history of convective cells in the stratiform region; or 3. perform both 1 and 2.

主权项

1. An aircraft hazard warning system, comprising:
an electronic processing system for determining a presence of ice crystals, the processing system being configured to receive radar reflectivity data and temperature data, the processing system being configured to determine an ice crystal warning by: 1. determining a size of a convective cell using the radar reflectivity data and temperature data and determining a blow off area associated with the convective cell in response to the size and a wind direction parameter, the blow off area being an area where ice crystals migrate due to wind; or 2. determining a size of a stratiform region and determining a presence of a convective cell previously in the stratiform region; and 3. wherein the radar reflectivity data comprises reflectivity data corresponding to at least two frequencies from a multi-frequency radar system, and wherein the processing system is configured to determine the ice crystal warning based at least in part on a comparison of the reflectivity data corresponding to the at least two frequencies from the multi-frequency radar; or 4. wherein the radar reflectivity data comprises at least two polarization diverse radar signals received from a polarization diversity radar system, and wherein the processing system is configured to determine the ice crystal warning based at least in part on a comparison of the at least two polarization diverse radar signals.