Theoretical Background

A brief history and Introduction

RADAR

radio detection and ranging

1865 James C. Maxwell describes Theory of the Electromagnetic Field in the Maxwell functions

Gauss' Law: \(\vec \nabla \cdot \vec D = \rho \)

Gauss' Law for magnetism: \(\vec\nabla \cdot \vec \Beta = 0 \)

Faraday's Law: \(\vec \nabla \times \vec \Epsilon = - \frac{\partial{\vec \Beta}}{\partial{t}}\)

Ampère-Maxwell Law: \(\vec\nabla \times \vec \Eta = \frac{\partial{\vec D}}{\partial{t}} + \vec j\)

1886 Heinrich Rudolf Hertz discovers electromagnetic waves
1897 Guglielmo Marconi displaying the first long distance transmission of electromagnetic waves (Radio communication)
1904 Christian Hülsmeyer patents the use of the reflection of electromagnetic waves for object detection. Mainly for ships as orientation in fog and during poor visibility.
from 1920 and during the WW2 multiple tests of radar detection for submarines and planes were developed
in the 1950s the use of radar was tested as a method to measure ice and glacier thickness
during the following decades multiple ice measuring expeditions are carried out on Greenland, Antarctica and permafrost areas. The techniques include measurements on the ice surface and with planes. The size of those days radar apparatuses were very voluminous.
in mid 1980 portable devices with battery power became more accessible which lead to more smaller devices and independence for measurements