449 MHz Modular Wind Profiler DevelopmentMAC update September 2012

William Brown

Brad Lindseth, Charlie Martin,Jen Standridge, Tim Lim, Lou Verstraete,Steve Cohn, Terry Hock

With help from:Jim Jordan, Dan Law, Warner Ecklund (NOAA)

EOL MAC 27 Sept 2012

449 MHz Modular Wind Profiler• Development to extend our wind profiler capabilities

• Longer wavelength enables higher altitudes

• Fast wind measurements (spaced antenna)

• Modular to give more flexibility

• Combine modules to make radars of varying sizes

• Easy to deploy

• No clutter screen

• Light-weight modules

HexagonalModule

Modularity

3-panel system2 kW ampProfiles through boundary layer

7-panel system8kW or 16kW ampProfile to mid-troposphere

3-panel PCAPS deployment

Winter cold pool study, Salt Lake valley

915 MHz

449 MHz

3-panel 449 MHz Comparison with 915 MHz

449915 High

915 Low

Winds percentagevs. Height

• Altitude coverage about 1 km greater

• 2 months

• Median abs diff ~ 1.5 m/s

7-panelLatest developments

Expansion to 7 panelsSo far using:2 kW TX amp3 channel data system

915 cf 7-panel 449915MHz high mode 449MHz 7-panel

7-panel 449 typically seeing 1 – 2 km higher

Yesterday

Vertical velocity & 5 minute winds

Note strong updraft

Current WorkCompleting 7-panel system: • 7-channel data system• Dual 8kW amplifiers• Upgraded front-end boxes• Mounting frame• Analyzing tests

Limitations:• Limited range resolution (~ 150m)• Processing and algorithms need work• Can see higher than 915s, but not low gates• Clutter, RFI & artifact rejection

Next steps

RIM• Range IMaging• Enables improvement in range resolution• Small inter-pulse steps in wavelength• Aiming to go from 150 m down to < 50 m• Funds identified for RIM expert to visit next summer

Improve processingReduce lowest range gateAdd diagnosticsMobile version (449 MISS)RASS (Radio Acoustic Sounding System)

Summary Prototype systems working well Completing seven antenna modules

o One 7-panel profiler OR two 3-panel systems(Two BL or one mid-troposphere profiler)

o Adding power (16kW) and data channels (3->7) Next Steps

o Adding RIMo RASS, diagnostics, Mobile, lower gates, processing

Three user proposals received already Front-Porch, DEEPWAVE, PECAN Test deployments : local and Metcrax Promising technology, but some limitations

Longer term: Ship operations Full 19-module system