Characterization of L-band RFI and implications for mitigation techniques

We describe measurements of radio frequency interference (RFI) in the 1200-1800 MHz band as observed from NASA's P-3 research aircraft during a flight along the Mid-Atlantic coast of the U.S. at altitudes of 2,000 and 20,000 ft. Both power spectra and coherently-sampled waveform data were obtained. Our results indicate that the spectrum below 1400 MHz is typically dominated by pulses from ground based radars, which, while very strong, individually have transmit duty cycles of on the order of 0.1%. We detect but are unable to identify some relatively weak intermittent RFI inside the 20 MHz protected band centered at 1413 MHz. We detect no significant RFI above 1420 MHz, but the limited sensitivity of this particular experiment makes it impossible to rule out the presense of RFI at levels damaging to total power radiometry. Implications for radiometer design, including possible active countermeaures for RFI mitigation, are discussed.