Core Science Keynote: Phased-Array Radar Applications in Cloud and Precipitation Research

Meteorological radars have historically employed a mechanically-scanning dish antenna and their ability to point to, survey, and revisit specific points or regions in the atmosphere is limited by mechanical inertia. Phased-array radars capable of high-speed, inertia less beam steering, have been available for several decades, but the cost of this technology has limited its use to military applications. During the last 10 years, we have witnessed a significant increase in the development of phased array systems in research institutions, and this presents an attractive and affordable new tool for the atmospheric sciences. The operational and research communities are currently exploring phased array advantages in signal processing (i.e. beam multiplexing, improved clutter rejection, cross beam wind estimation, adaptive sensing) and science applications (i.e. tornadic storm morphology studies). Phased-array radar capabilities such as adaptive scanning and fast revisiting time especially in a network configuration could provide the leap in observational power required to address some of the observational shortcomings of the last 50 years. Here, we will present some areas of atmospheric research where phased array radars with ability to provide rapid volume imaging offers the potential to advance cloud and precipitation research. We will discuss the added value of single phased-array radars as well as networks of these radars for several problems including: multi-Doppler wind retrieval techniques, winter weather studies, cloud lifetime studies and aerosol-convection interactions.