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The SMART-R Program is a collaborative research program involving four major weather research institutions:
- The National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
- Texas Tech University, Lubbock Texas
- The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Two mobile 5-cm Doppler radars will be used to study convective and mesoscale atmospheric processes to help improve forecasts of significant weather events such as flash floods, hurricanes and tornadoes.
| Director of the SMART Radar Program: | Dr. Michael Biggerstaff School of Meteorology National Weather Center Suite 5900 120 David L. Boren Blvd. Norman, OK 73072-7307 drdoppler@ou.edu |
Breaking News
NSSL and OU have teamed up to build a new mobile X-band dual-polarimetric radar, dubbed the NO-XP, that entered its integrated systems testing phase on 1 November 2007. The NO-XP will be primarily used by NOAA and OU scientists to improve quantitative rainfall estimates and to aid microphysical retrievals for improved numerical weather prediction of convective storm events. We expect the radar to be field tested this upcoming spring. Dr. Allen Zahrai (NSSL) is the project PI.
OU and NSSL SMART-radar team wins NSF MRI award (
86 kB) to upgrade one of the mobile C-band radars to dual-polarimetric capability. SR-2 will be taken apart during fall-winter 2008 and rebuilt with the ability to perform simultaneous transmit/receive dual-polarization measurements. The radar is expected to be fully functional again in time for the proposed VORTEX-2 project beginning in April 2009. Dr. Michael Biggerstaff (OU) is the project PI.
SR-1 undergoes signal processor and antenna controller upgrade. A new SIGMET RVP8/RCP08 signal processor/antenna controller was integrated into SR-1 during October-November 2007. The upgrade provides for full recording of the Inphase and Quadrature (I&Q) components of the signal on a pulse-to-pulse basis and increases antenna stability control. With this upgrade we will be able to record the full power spectra at antenna rotation rate speeds up to 5 rpm in 90 mph winds out to the full operational range of the radar. This will aid in the development of new signal processing algorithms. SR-2 will be similarly improved as part of the dual-polarimetric upgrade. The SR-1 upgrade was funded, in part, by Dr. David Jorgensen (NSSL).
The satellite-based wide-band internet system on SR1 was recently upgraded to the DC3 controller. This allows faster locking onto the satellite system used for internet access and real-time transmission of data products back to the Hazardous Weather Testbed in Norman, OK. The current uplink has limited bandwidth, allowing a PPI product to be sent every 10-15 minutes. Proposals are pending to replace the current system with a much faster and greater bandwidth unit that would allow real-time transmission of the "level 2 equivalent" raw moment data back to the Hazardous Weather Testbed. This would provide real-time access of the raw data for warnings and forecasts. Dr. Conrad Ziegler (NSSL) is the lead person regarding real-time data communications for the SMART radars.
Recent Publications
Palmer, R., G. Zhang, M. Biggerstaff, P. Chilson, J. Crain, S. Torres, M.Yeary, T.-Y. Yu, Y. Zhang, 2007: Atmospheric Radar Research Center - ARRC University of Oklahoma, USA (.pdf, 1.98MB). IEEE-Geosci. and Remote Sens. Newsletter, 142, 10-16.
Knupp, Kevin R., Justin Walters, and Michael Biggerstaff, 2006: Doppler profiler and radar observations of boundary layer variability during the landfall of Tropical Storm Gabrielle (.pdf, 2.87MB). J. Atmos. Sci., 63, 234 - 251.
Biggerstaff, Michael, Louis J. Wicker, Jerry Guynes, Conrad Ziegler, Jerry M. Straka, Erik N. Rasmussen, Arthur Doggett IV, Larry D. Carey, John L. Schroeder, and Chris Weiss, 2005: The Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching Radar: A collaboration to enhance research and teaching (.pdf, 1.02MB). Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 86, 1263 - 1274.
Field Activities
Tropical Composition Cloud and Climate Coupling (TC4), San Jose, Costa Rica 15 July - 20 August 2007
Dr. Michael Biggerstaff from the University of Oklahoma led the first international deployment of a SMART radar during the NASA TC4 experiment. The radar was located near the west end of the Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica (photo at left), where it was used to provide real-time flight support for NASA's DC-8, ER-2, and WB-57 aircraft. The SMART radar was the first Doppler radar to ever have been deployed in Costa Rica and provided insight into the structure and timing of the modified land-sea breeze circulation that initiates afternoon thunderstorms over the airport on a regular basis.
SMART radar data and sticknet deployments from 22 May 2007 in northern Texas Panhandle.
Data Assimilation Resolution Experiment/Phased Array SMART Radar Storm Experiment (DARE/PASSE), Central Oklahoma, 1 May - 10 June 2007.
Dr. Louis Wicker from the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) and Dr. Michael Biggerstaff from the University of Oklahoma led a team to investigate the advantages of rapidly scanning the atmosphere and to evaluate, using data assimilation techniques, the impact of phased array radar technology on the prediction of severe weather. The two SMART radars were operated in coordination with the Multifunction Phased Array (MPAR), led by Dr. Pam Heinselman from NSSL, whenever significant convective activity was nearby. The SMART radars also deployed to the Texas panhandle on 23 May to observe a nonclassic tornado ) that was spawned from a supercell storms embedded in multicellular convection. This same storm was sampled by the Texas Tech University Sticknet sensors.
The figure at left displays SMART radar data and sticknet deployments from 22 May 2007 in northern Texas Panhandle. Image is radial velocity while the dashed outline with internal shading depicts the 40 dBZ and greater. Circles are TTU sticknet locations deployed to capture the surface fields beneath the mesocyclone. (Sticknet image courtesy of Dr. Chris Weiss, Texas Tech University)
Radar Characteristics
| Platform | Systems are mounted on a diesel International 4700 4x2 flatbed truck with an extended cab which houses the radar control systems and onboard computers. |
|---|---|
| Transmitter | 250kW peak power, four
selectable pulse durations from 0.3 - 2.5 microseconds. Duty cycle: 0.001. Selectable PRF: 300 - 3000. Linear horizontal polarization. Solid state high voltage power supply and modulator. |
| Pedestal | SCR-584 units with 8.5" base extensions and retrofitted motors, digital servo amplifiers, 14 bit digital shaft encoders, and digital antenna control. |
| Antenna | 8-ft diameter solid parabolic
reflector with shock mounted center feed horn and RF echo absorbing
struts. Provides a 1.5 degree beamwidth and approximately 40 dB gain. |
| Processor | Digital SIGMET RVP-7 signal processor with selectable clutter filter, gate spacing, multiple PRF velocity dealiasing, and multiple quality control thresholds. |
| Data | Radar reflectivity, radial velocity, and spectrum width out to 2048 gates with minimal gate spacing of 62.5 meters. |
| Archive | Data is burned on to writeable CDROM. |
Principal Investigators
| Texas A&M University | Dr. Courtney Schumaker  |
|---|---|
| Texas Tech University | Dr. John Schroeder Dr. Chris Weiss |
| University of Oklahoma | Dr.
Michael Biggerstaff Dr. Jerry Straka |
| National Severe Storms Laboratory | Dr. Louis Wicker Dr. Conrad Ziegler |