Transcript Preliminary Design Review Presentation: Overview

Project Overview
• Background
– The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) operates a Gulfstream
V mid-altitude jet aircraft primarily to conduct National Science Foundation
(NSF) sponsored atmospheric research
– This aircraft is known as the High-performance Instrumented Airborne Platform
for Environmental Research (HIAPER)
– A millimeter wave radar was considered an essential part of HIAPER’s
instrumentation payload, which consists of both in-situ and remote sensing
instruments
– So, a community survey was conducted to establish the basic characteristics of
this radar…
Project Overview
• Background
Three options were presented to the research community
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
W-band, polarimetric,
dual-Doppler radar
•
•
Ka-band, polarimetric,
dual-Doppler radar
Dual-wavelength (Wand Ka-band),
polarimetric, Doppler
radar with unmatched
beams
Option 4
Dual-wavelength (Wand Ka-band),
polarimetric, Doppler
radar with matched
beams
Community preference was for a dual-wavelength system (option 3)
Unfortunately the cost of option 3 exceeded available funds so a three phased
approach was proposed:
– Phase A: Scanning, airborne, W-band Doppler radar – HIAPER MREFC funds
– Phase B: Adds Polarimetry (H-V), pulse compression – currently unfunded, CAPRIS?
– Phase C: Adds Second wavelength (Ka-band) – currently unfunded, CAPRIS?
Project Overview
• Background
• Scientific Motivation
– Study Cloud microphysics (cloud boundaries, LWC and IWC)
– Study Cloud dynamics
– CloudSat intercomparison/verification studies