Wind-Shear Detection Performance Analysis for MPAR Risk Reduction

Multifunction phased array radars (MPARs) of the future that may replace the current terminal wind-shear detection systems will need to meet the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) detection requirements. In particular, the wind-shear detection capability provided at 46 U.S. airports by today's best-performing ground-based sensor for this purpose, the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR), should not be compromised by its replacement. Detection performance issues related to on-airport siting of MPAR, its broader antenna beamwidth relative to the TDWR, and the change in operational frequency to S band are analyzed. Results from the 2012 MPAR Wind-Shear Experiment (WSE) are presented, with microburst and gust-front detection statistics for the Oklahoma City TDWR and the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) phased array radar, which are located 6 km apart. NWRT data is also used to demonstrate that rapid-scan phased array radar has the potential to enhance microburst prediction capability.

This work was sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration under Air Force Contract No. FA8721-05-C-0002. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the United States Government.