RHB C-band radar scan strategy constraints Cloud top height less than 1.5 km altitude Features of interest < 5 km in scale Rapid evolution of cells fast volume scan 0.95 antenna beam width Max antenna scan rate of 36 /sec Minimum 55 samples/deg for Z quality Minimum usable elevation angle for PPI is 1 (lower angles have too much sea clutter) At 60 km range, beam is 1 km wide
Proposed C-band scans DescriptionAnglesVariablesScan rate/ Time to complete Schedule PPI Volume11 elevations 1 -11 Z, Vr, SW20 deg/sec 3:46 min Every 5 min RHI4 Azimuth angles Z, Vr, SWVariable 1:02 min Every 5 min RHI Option A: 4 azimuth angles 90 apart RHI Option B: 4 azimuth angles in mini-wedge 7 wide at 03:50 min center azimuth is 0 deg 08:50 min center azimuth is 30 deg 13:50 min center azimuth is 60 deg … 58:50 min center azimuth is 330 deg
METEK MicroRainRadar Vertically pointing Ku-band (1.25 cm, 24.1 GHz) Range resolution 35m- 150m 29 range gates measured Transmit power 50 mW Min sensitivity ~ 5 dBZ Measurements of: Doppler velocity dBZ Propose to mount on RHB upper deck railing, set to 60 m gates, 30 sec sampling
dBZ VrVr Example MRR data from snow storm on 7 April 2007 at Poga Mountain, NC