Extended Abstract (2.0M)P1R.10
Refractivity Measurements from Ground Clutter Using the National Weather Radar Testbed Phased Array Radar
Boon Leng Cheong, Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK; and R. D. Palmer, T. Y. Yu, and C. Curtis
The phase of radar backscattered echoes depends on the electromagnetic characteristics of the targets, the motions of the targets and the atmospheric conditions in which the radio waves propagate. For echoes reflected from perfectly stationary targets, the phase of the received signal is constant assuming the refractive index of the air mass between the radar and the target remains unchanged. Temporal variations in humidity and temperature can cause subtle, yet measurable, phase changes in the backscattered signal. Pioneering work in the use of this technique for near-surface studies of atmospheric conditions has been accomplished by Fabry et al. [J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 14, 978-987, Aug 1997], where he used an S-band scanning radar for the experiments. Here, we will investigate the advantages of the use of a phased array radar system. The S-band Phased Array Radar (PAR) will be used, which is the centerpiece of the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) located in Norman, Oklahoma, and operated by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL). Possible advantages of the use of phased array technology may be the mitigation of smearing of clutter targets due to antenna motion, adaptive mapping of clutter targets, and rapid update times, for example. Preliminary data will be presented from Spring/Summer 2005 and comparisons made with a closely spaced array of surface instruments.
Poster Session 1R, Mm-wave radar and CloudSat
Monday, 24 October 2005, 1:15 PM-3:00 PM, Alvarado F and Atria
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