The value of Distributed Collaborative Adaptive Sensing (DCAS) for observing high impact weather: Preliminary results from CASA

The Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) is operating a test bed of four dual-polarization X-band radars in southwestern Oklahoma with the primary goal of quantifying the value of a new philosophy of radar scanning known as Distributed Collaborative Adaptive Sensing (DCAS). The advantages of DCAS include: high temporal (60-sec) and spatial resolution (50-m gate spacing), an emphasis on low-level scanning (< 3km AGL), overlapping beam coverage, coordinated and adaptive multi-radar sensing, and dynamic, real-time response to end-user needs. The value of DCAS for the analysis of high-impact weather will be examined in light of direct comparisons of CASA and NEXRAD data from case studies collected during the spring storm season of 2007. The merit of each attribute of DCAS will be explored and, how DCAS improves the early identification and warning of high-impact weather features will be discussed.