Weather  

Airborne Phased Array Radar (APAR): Next-generation radar for weather research Winter 2015 ______________________________________________________________________________________  I. Description Airborne radar is a critical tool for studying weather and related hazards, especially over rugged terrain or the open ocean, where other tools can have major limitations. Now, major advances in cellular technology, component miniaturization, and radar antenna simulation software have paved the way for a next-generation radar being designed by NCAR for installation on the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft. Instead of relying on a single dish, this airborne phased array radar (APAR) will incorporate thousands of miniature transmitters and receivers mounted on a rectangular plate. It will feature four removable, C-band active electronically scanned array antennas mounted on top, both sides, and the bottom of the aircraft. NCAR APAR will operate like many radars in one, enabling researchers to sample the atmosphere far more frequently. Data with greatly improved spatial and temporal resolution will be gathered along a plane’s flight track, with significantly reduced signal loss in heavy precipitation. The APAR wavelength (5-cm) allows measurements of storm dynamics and microphysics deeper inside the storms, while allowing the aircraft to remain at a safer distance. The system will also feature dual polarization capability that can distinguish between raindrops, ice crystals, and snowflakes. The result will be improved observations and predictions of dangerous rain and snow events, including severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, winter storms, and other hazardous, difficult-to-study weather conditions. II. Stage of Research Design is complete. Implementation is divided into three phases:

• Build a prototype radar transmitter/receiver (mid-2015)

• Build a full-size single-panel prototype for ground testing (2018)

• Develop the complete APAR four-panel system for C-130 installation and operations (2022)

 

 

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Contact  

Scott Rayder, UCAR Senior Advisor for Development and Partnerships +1 303-497-1673 | rayder@ucar.edu | president.ucar.edu/development

III. Advantages

• State-of-the-art airborne radar, with unique capabilities and specialized observing instruments available to the nation's weather researchers via the NSF/NCAR C-130 aircraft.

• The ability to significantly improve our understanding of storm dynamics as well as raindrop and ice crystal characteristics, leading to better estimates of storm strength, heavy precipitation, and their potential impacts.

• An adaptable design for the C-130 and potentially other aircraft operated by many agencies in the United States and other nations, including the U.S. Air Force, for hurricane reconnaissance and research.

• Longer-range observations, allowing research aircraft to fly at a safer distance from severe weather while obtaining vital data.

IV. Applications Because APAR will gather much-improved observations of dynamics and microphysics from within storms, its development holds the potential to make significant improvements in understanding, tracking, and forecasting many types of weather, including:

• Tropical cyclones (hurricane genesis, track, intensity change, landfall location, and impacts)

• Severe weather (tornadoes, supercells, squall lines, derechoes, etc.) • Mountain-related precipitation and flooding • Winter storms and fronts (blizzards, ice storms, etc.) • Oceanic weather (showers and thunderstorms) • Climate processes that connect the ocean and atmosphere (El Niño, La

Niña, etc.) V. Funding and IP Status Primary: National Science Foundation Seeking additional funding for APAR development VI. Research Partners Seeking additional collaborators in the university community and private industry