csu chill national radar facility · the virtual chill -vchill visitors at the radar...

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About the CSU-CHILL Radar

Educational Activities

Dual-wavelength antenna

About the CSU-CHILL Radar

The CSU-CHILL National Weather Radar Facility, located in Greeley, CO, is an

Educational Activities

Dual-wavelength antenna

The facility is an integral element of engineering and atmospheric science programs at CSU

The CSU-CHILL National Weather Radar Facility, located in Greeley, CO, is an

advanced, transportable dual-polarized S-band weather radar system. The facility is

The facility is an integral element of engineering and atmospheric science programs at CSU

and institutions nationwide.

Research Activities

The CSU-CHILL radar features a unique dual offset-feed antenna with dual-

wavelength capability

advanced, transportable dual-polarized S-band weather radar system. The facility is

funded by the National Science Foundation and Colorado State University, and is

hosted by the Departments of Atmospheric Science and Electrical and Computer

Research Activities

•Advanced signal processing techniques

wavelength capability

Features

•Three feed horn options available (Dual wavelength, 10 cm and 3 cm)

hosted by the Departments of Atmospheric Science and Electrical and Computer

Engineering.

Features

•Advanced signal processing techniques

•Radar hardware research and design

•Advanced polarimetricrainfall analysis

•Three feed horn options available (Dual wavelength, 10 cm and 3 cm)

•Beam width of 1.0 degree at 10 cm (S-band), 0.3 degree at 3 cm (X-band)

•Symmetric OMT design, LDR limit exceeds 40 dB (S-band)

Features

•Dual offset, dual-wavelength low sidelobeGregorian antenna system

•

•Advanced polarimetricrainfall analysis

•Automated hydrometeor identification algorithms

Classroom Activities

•Symmetric OMT design, LDR limit exceeds 40 dB (S-band)

•Low sidelobelevels improve clutter rejection at low elevation sweeps

•Flexible antenna controller supports sector scans and RHIs

•Easy-to-use, remotely accessible radar control interface

•Polarization-agile dual-Klystron 1 MW transmitter at S-band

Classroom Activities

•A rich collection of radar data in support of classroom activities

•Tutorials with guided interpretations of polarimetricradar cases

REU Sphere Cal

•Flexible antenna controller supports sector scans and RHIs

•Protected by air-supported radome

•Polarization-agile dual-Klystron 1 MW transmitter at S-band

•Simultaneous-transmit 25 kW Magnetron transmitter at X-band

•Dual-channel software-defined digital-IF receiver

•Tutorials with guided interpretations of polarimetricradar cases

•Short courses which integrate the CSU-CHILL Facility

REU Sphere Cal

•Dual-channel software-defined digital-IF receiver

•Flexible signal processor, customizable to project needs

•Comprehensive calibration subsystem

Short courses which integrate the CSU-CHILL Facility

Virtual Radar Tours

•Internet streaming video from multiple on-site cameras

•Comprehensive calibration subsystem

•VCHILL Real-time control and distribution of radar data

•Dual-dopplercapability with CSU-Pawnee S-band radar

•Internet streaming video from multiple on-site cameras

•Close-up views of the antenna structure

•Walk-around of the transmitter/receiver subsystems

•Dual-dopplercapability with CSU-Pawnee S-band radar

User Access

•Walk-around of the transmitter/receiver subsystems

•Remote presentation via video by CSU-CHILL staff

Research Experience for Undergraduates

User Access

•NSF-funded projects reviewed by Observing Facilities Allocation Panel (OFAP)

•Cost-recovery non-NSF projects, also reviewed by OFAP

Research Experience for Undergraduates

•Hands-on experience with radar hardware and operations

•Cost-recovery non-NSF projects, also reviewed by OFAP

•Small scale “20-hour” projects, conducted at Greeley

•Live virtual tours of the radar facility

•Hands-on experience with radar hardware and operations

•Individual mentoring by facility staff

•Majors in Physics, Engineering, Computer Science and

Air-supported Radome

Dual Reflector Assembly

•Live virtual tours of the radar facility

•Majors in Physics, Engineering, Computer Science and

Atmospheric Science

Air-supported Radome

Dual Reflector Assembly

REU Students at CSU-CHILL

CSU-CHILL Radar Site

Educational Field Trips

•Tours conducted for small groups of visitors

CSU-CHILL Radar Site

•Tours conducted for small groups of visitors

•Includes introduction to radar, visits to

radar hardware and a live demo

The Virtual CHILL -VCHILL

radar hardware and a live demo

Visitors at the Radar

Dual-wavelength Feed Assembly

10-cm (S-band) Feed Assembly

The Virtual CHILL -VCHILL

The Virtual CHILL, or VCHILL system allows remote users to display data

Example Measurements with the CSU-CHILL radar

The Virtual CHILL, or VCHILL system allows remote users to display data

both from the CHILL archives as well as from real-time operations.

Features

Example Measurements with the CSU-CHILL radar

Severe thunderstorm observed during the

Features

•Free download from the CHILL website

•Interactive viewing of archived data collected by CSU-CHILL

S-band

Severe thunderstorm observed during the

DC3 project on the evening of June 7,

2012. This storm produced widespread

•Interactive viewing of archived data collected by CSU-CHILL

•Real-time access to live CSU-CHILL data stream

•Cross platform Java-based application

2012. This storm produced widespread

damaging hail. Near 0 dB differential

reflectivity values were observed in the

•Cross platform Java-based application

•Incorporates educational bookmarks with featured case studies

reflectivity values were observed in the

reflectivity core, coincident with

observations of large hail shown below.

observations of large hail shown below.

The hail area also displayed enhanced

linear depolarization levels. At a slightly

higher elevation angle, a mesocyclone

ZDR

Zh

X-band

higher elevation angle, a mesocyclone

circulation was present.

X-band

RHI through the same storm, showing

Ψdpand KDP a-scope plots

Reflectivity from convective

Precipitation on Aug 19, 2011

Hailstones observed from this storm

Ψdpand KDP a-scope plots

Precipitation on Aug 19, 2011

This facility is sponsored by NSF cooperative agreement no: AGS1138116

Dual-wavelength measurements in snow

Hailstones observed from this storm

Picture courtesy Mark Lindquist

Radial Velocity

LDR

This facility is sponsored by NSF cooperative agreement no: AGS1138116

Dual-wavelength measurements in snow