Investiagting The Rain Rate Relationship Using The Skyler X-Band Phased Array Radar.

Accurately estimating rainfall rates is important to help alert the public of potential hazards. A newer type of radar, Skyler radar, is being used to improve the accuracy of these measurements. This radar has two purposes, for monitoring air traffic and sensing weather. The Skyler radar is a high-resolution weather sensor that uses a dual polarization pencil beam and provides low altitude coverage scans. Currently this radar is stationed at several Universities. It is ideal because it involves no moving parts and therefore is relatively compact. The focus of this study involves utilizing this technology as a weather sensor. The goal is to determine the collaboration ability of the Skyler radar versus the Nextrad to allow for accurately estimating rainfall amounts compared to local rain gauges.

The Skyler radar produces scans over a set area every 30 seconds. A python script is utilized to run this radar. The radar scans are then downloaded to allow for analysis. This analysis is done using a python script which has the capability of producing maps of various variables. The maps allowed for the identification of the location and strength of rainfall. An additional aspect of this script was the calculation of the rain rate for each scan at a set location. Further the accuracy of the calibration of the Skyler radar will be compared to the NEXRAD. This will be used to test the calibration of the rain rate relation.

These rain rates will be compared to local rain gauges. Archived rainfall data was gathered from the TempestOne rain gauge and the ASUS at The Norfolk International Airport. The rain gauges in the TempestOne network are haptic rain gauges that measure and count each falling raindrop. These haptic rain gauges quantify rainfall by measuring the force of the raindrops that impact the flat surface of the device. The rainfall data is stored overtime and can be viewed in graphs and tables. These tables were utilized to calculate rainfall rates over set locations at certain times.

The rain rates at selected dates and times were calculated to use as a comparison to the Skyler radar and NEXRAD. Following calculating the rain rates a comparison was made between the rain rates at the rain gauges and the Skyler radar. These results were displayed in graphical form. The rain rates of both instruments were compared to find if there was any correlation. It was determined that with the ideal combination of rain within the set location, available rain gauge rainfall data and a surplus of radar scans a comparison can be made. Understandably more data will have to be collected to draw a sufficient conclusion on the accuracy of the Skyler radar. It would be ideal to have upwards of several days of sufficient rainfall data. This would allow for multiple graphs and a statistical analysis to be done. Furthermore, a comparison will be made between the Skyler radar and NEXRAD to determine how accurate the calibration is.