The National Severe Storms Laboratory (NOAA-NSSL) and the Advanced Radar Research Center at the University of Oklahoma (OU-ARRC) are presently involved in the design, development and construction of a cylindrical polarimetric phased array radar (CPPAR) to demonstrate polarimetric capabilities for weather sensing within the Multi-function Phased Array Radar (MPAR) project. In this paper we present preliminary system design of CPPAR.

School of Meteorology, Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OklahomaSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OklahomaSchool of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OklahomaSchool of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OklahomaCooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OklahomaCORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Robert D. Palmer, Atmospheric Radar Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 4610, Norman, OK 73072, E-mail: rpalmer@ou.edu

It is becoming widely accepted that radar polarimetry provides accurate and informative weather measurements, while phased-array technology can shorten data updating time. In this paper, a theory of phased array radar (PAR) polarimetry is developed to establish the relation between electric fields at the antenna of the PAR and the fields in a resolution volume filled with hydrometeors. It is shown that polarimetric measurements with an electronically steered beam can cause measurement biases that are comparable to or even larger than the intrinsic polarimetric characteristics of hydrometeors. However, these biases are correctable if the transmitted electric fields are known. A correction to the measured scattering matrix that removes biases in meteorological variables is derived. The challenges and opportunities for weather sensing with a polarimetric PAR are discussed.

It is becoming widely accepted that radar polarimetry provides accurate and informative weather measurements, while phased array technology can shorten data updating time. In this paper, a theory of phased array radar polarimetry is developed, and the relationship between the wave field at the radar antenna coordinate and that at the hydrometeors is established, along with the correction matrix to the scattering matrix. The challenges and opportunities for the weather sensing are discussed.

The Atmospheric Radar Research Center (ARRC) at the University of Oklahoma (OU) is focused on weather radar research and education. This center is a result of a significant investment by the university to accelerate research and learning in an area of great importance to Oklahoma and to the meteorological community in Norman. The ARRC is comprised of a growing research faculty, comprehensive test facilities, and an established, multidisciplinary education program at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Faculty members and students from the OU Schools of Meteorology (SoM) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), and from the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS) comprise the ARRC and are actively engaged in collaborative research in pursuit of defining the next generation of weather radar sensors. The study of the atmosphere using remote sensing techniques cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Therefore, the breadth of research topics investigated within the ARRC is multi-disciplinary by necessity. An artist’s depiction of these topics is provided in Figure 1. Weather radar is the centerpiece technology, which focuses the ARRC activities. Close collaborations with NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) and Radar Operations Center (ROC) enable the ARRC to participate in a diversity of projects. Ongoing research topics include radar polarimetry, phased array radar, profiling radar, advanced signal processing, retrieval algorithms, clutter mitigation, severe storm observations and detection, quantitative precipitation estimation, and general studies of atmospheric physics. Members of the ARRC are deeply committed to the underlying theme of interdisciplinary education. ARRC faculty members have developed a rather unique curriculum focused on weather radar. Section 3 describes the program, which exploits the expertise represented within the SoM and ECE. Meteorology and engineering experts at NSSL and the ROC are often called upon to provide lectures in our formal OU courses. As a result, our students are afforded an enriched educational opportunity in the field of instrumented studies of the atmosphere.