scholarly journals RadarNet-Sur First Weather Radar Network in Tropical High Mountains

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 1235-1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Bendix ◽  
Andreas Fries ◽  
Jorge Zárate ◽  
Katja Trachte ◽  
Rütger Rollenbeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Weather Radar ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Radar Signal ◽  
High Mountains ◽  
Radar Network ◽  
X Band ◽  
Southern Ecuador

Abstract Weather radar networks are indispensable tools for forecasting and disaster prevention in industrialized countries. However, they are far less common in the countries of South America, which frequently suffer from an underdeveloped network of meteorological stations. To address this problem in southern Ecuador, this article presents a novel radar network using cost-effective, single-polarization, X-band technology: the RadarNet-Sur. The RadarNet-Sur network is based on three scanning X-band weather radar units that cover approximately 87,000 km2 of southern Ecuador. Several instruments, including five optical disdrometers and two vertically aligned K-band Doppler radar profilers, are used to properly (inter) calibrate the radars. Radar signal processing is a major issue in the high mountains of Ecuador because cost-effective radar technologies typically lack Doppler capabilities. Thus, special procedures were developed for clutter detection and beam blockage correction by integrating ground-based and satelliteborne measurements. To demonstrate practical applications, a map of areas frequently affected by intense rainfall is presented, based on a time series of one radar that has been in operation since 2002. Such information is of vital importance to, for example, infrastructure management because rain-driven landslides are a major issue for road maintenance and safety throughout Ecuador. The presented case study of exceptionally strong rain events during the recent El Niño in March 2015 highlights the system’s practicality in weather forecasting related to disaster management. For the first time, RadarNet-Sur warrants a spatial-explicit observation of El Niño-related heavy precipitation in a transect from the coast to the highlands in a spatial resolution of 500 m.

scholarly journals Global warming in Amazonia: impacts and Mitigation

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 1003-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Martin Fearnside
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Carbon Accounting ◽  
Amazon Forest ◽  
Temperature Oscillations

Global warming has potentially catastrophic impacts in Amazonia, while at the same time maintenance of the Amazon forest offers one of the most valuable and cost-effective options for mitigating climate change. We know that the El Niño phenomenon, caused by temperature oscillations of surface water in the Pacific, has serious impacts in Amazonia, causing droughts and forest fires (as in 1997-1998). Temperature oscillations in the Atlantic also provoke severe droughts (as in 2005). We also know that Amazonian trees die both from fires and from water stress under hot, dry conditions. In addition, water recycled through the forest provides rainfall that maintains climatic conditions appropriate for tropical forest, especially in the dry season. What we need to know quickly, through intensified research, includes progress in representing El Niño and the Atlantic oscillations in climatic models, representation of biotic feedbacks in models used for decision-making about global warming, and narrowing the range of estimating climate sensitivity to reduce uncertainty about the probability of very severe impacts. Items that need to be negotiated include the definition of "dangerous" climate change, with the corresponding maximum levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Mitigation of global warming must include maintaining the Amazon forest, which has benefits for combating global warming from two separate roles: cutting the flow the emissions of carbon each year from the rapid pace of deforestation, and avoiding emission of the stock of carbon in the remaining forest that can be released by various ways, including climate change itself. Barriers to rewarding forest maintenance include the need for financial rewards for both of these roles. Other needs are for continued reduction of uncertainty regarding emissions and deforestation processes, as well as agreement on the basis of carbon accounting. As one of the countries most subject to impacts of climate change, Brazil must assume the leadership in fighting global warming.

Research on X-Band Weather Radar Network Based on Sensor Grid

2012 ◽  
Vol 468-471 ◽  
pp. 1274-1277
Author(s):  
Chen Li
Keyword(s):  
Weather Radar ◽  
Key Technology ◽  
Radar Systems ◽  
Radar Network ◽  
Additional Equipment ◽  
X Band ◽  
Architectural Framework ◽  
Information Advantage ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Network Advantage

Monitoring of precipitation using X-band weather radar systems is becoming popular. X-band weather radar network, as an additional equipment of China new generation weather radar, primarily used to measure weather echo within 3km above the ground and has a high prospect. The network, based on sensor grid, is greater information advantage and network advantage. This paper describes the design, the key technology and implementation of an architectural framework of the weather radar network based on sensor grid. The results show that the network works robustly in real time.

Improving the Accuracy of Rain Rate Estimates Using X-Band Phased-Array Weather Radar Network

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 6986-6994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Kikuchi ◽  
Tomoo Ushio ◽  
Fumihiko Mizutani ◽  
Masakazu Wada
Keyword(s):  
Rain Rate ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Weather Radar ◽  
Radar Network ◽  
X Band

scholarly journals On the Implementation of a Regional X-Band Weather Radar Network

Atmosphere ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Antonini ◽  
Samantha Melani ◽  
Manuela Corongiu ◽  
Stefano Romanelli ◽  
Alessandro Mazza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weather Radar ◽  
Radar Network ◽  
X Band

scholarly journals Índice de anomalia de chuvas da Microrregião do Cariri Ocidental Paraibano

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2628
Author(s):  
Renata Richelle Santos Diniz ◽  
Maria Leide Silva Alencar ◽  
Shayenny Alves de Medeiros ◽  
Hugo Orlando Carvallo Guerra ◽  
Julio Cesar Rodrigues de Sales
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Rainy Period ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Atmospheric Phenomena ◽  
Anomaly Index

A região semiárida do Brasil tem como particularidade a grande irregularidade na precipitação, comportamento esse decorrente de um conjunto de fatores, desde características geográficas, como também fenômenos atmosféricos. Por essa razão, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a variabilidade climática da microrregião do Cariri Ocidental Paraibano composto por 17 munícipios, através da utilização do Índice de Anomalia de Chuva (IAC) e correlacionar a classificação desse índice com a ocorrência, intensidade e influência do Fenômeno El Niño. Foram utilizados dados pluviométricos de um período de 21 anos (1999-2019) disponibilizados pela AESA (Agência Executiva de Gestão das Águas do Estado da Paraíba) aplicados no cálculo do IAC que nos permitiu identificar a intensidade e duração dos períodos secos e úmidos da série, foram empregados também dados do El Niño, concedidos pelo Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos (CPTEC) e Instituto de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). As incidências de anomalias (negativas e positivas) de precipitação foram analisadas mensalmente e anualmente. A climatologia temporal da precipitação da microrregião do Cariri Ocidental paraibano mostrou que seu período chuvoso inicia-se no mês de janeiro a maio, em contrapartida o período seco ocorre entre os meses de junho a dezembro, sendo setembro tido como o mês mais seco. O mês de agosto contabilizou o maior número de vezes no qual foi classificado como mês úmido (17 vezes), e julho o mês que foi classificado como mais repetidamente seco (9 vezes). Ainda utilizando o cálculo do IAC, foi possível determinar a quantidade de anos secos (10 anos) e úmidos (11 anos), ressaltando que o ano de 2012 foi o único classificado como ano de seca extremamente alta, onde o mesmo foi classificado como um ano de El Nino de intensidade forte. Assim conclui-se a importância da metodologia empegada para o acompanhamento interanual da precipitação pluviométrica da região do Cariri Ocidental paraibano vindo a tornar esses dados obtidos extremamente úteis para uma melhor compreensão da interação do fenômeno atmosférico El Niño e o regime de chuvas da região semiárida.Palavras- chave: IAC, Período Seco, Período Chuvoso, semiárido, climatologia. Rain anomaly index of the Cariri Western Paraibano Microregion A B S T R A C TThe semi-arid region of Brazil is characterized by the great irregularity in precipitation, a behavior that results from a set of factors, from geographical characteristics, as well as atmospheric phenomena. For this reason, the present work aimed to analyze the climatic variability of the micro region of Cariri Oeste Paraibano composed of 17 municipalities, using the Rain Anomaly Index (IAC) and correlate the classification of this index with the occurrence, intensity and influence of the El Niño Phenomenon. Rainfall data from a period of 21 years (1999-2019) made available by AESA (Executive Water Management Agency of the State of Paraíba) was used in the calculation of the IAC, which allowed us to identify the intensity and duration of the dry and wet periods of the series , data from El Niño, granted by the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies (CPTEC) and the Institute for Space Research (INPE), were also used. The incidence of precipitation anomalies (negative and positive) were analyzed monthly and annually. The temporal climatology of precipitation in the Cariri Western Paraiba micro-region showed that its rainy period starts in the month of January to May, in contrast the dry period occurs between the months of June to December, with September being the driest month. The month of August had the highest number of times in which it was classified as a wet month (17 times), and July the month that was classified as the most repeatedly dry (9 times). Still using the IAC calculation, it was possible to determine the number of dry (10 years) and wet (11 years) years, emphasizing that 2012 was the only year classified as an extremely high drought year, where it was classified as a El Nino year of strong intensity. Thus, we conclude the importance of the methodology used for interannual monitoring of rainfall in the region of Western Cariri in Paraíba, making these data extremely useful for a better understanding of the interaction of the atmospheric phenomenon El Niño and the rain regime of the semiarid region.Keywords: IAC, Dry Period, Rainy Period, semiarid, climatology.

El Niño meets La Niña – anomalous rainfall patterns in the “traditional” El Niño region of southern Ecuador

Erdkunde ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joerg Bendix ◽  
Katja Trache ◽  
Enrique Palacios ◽  
Ruetger Rollenbeck ◽  
Dietrich Goettlicher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
La Niña ◽  
La Nina ◽  
Southern Ecuador ◽  
Rainfall Patterns

scholarly journals Coupling X-band dual-polarized mini-radars and hydro-meteorological forecast models: the HYDRORAD project

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1229-1241 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Picciotti ◽  
F. S. Marzano ◽  
E. N. Anagnostou ◽  
J. Kalogiros ◽  
Y. Fessas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Weather Radar ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Dual Polarization ◽  
Radar Observations ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Radar Network ◽  
X Band ◽  
Modelling System

Abstract. Hydro-meteorological hazards like convective outbreaks leading to torrential rain and floods are among the most critical environmental issues world-wide. In that context weather radar observations have proven to be very useful in providing information on the spatial distribution of rainfall that can support early warning of floods. However, quantitative precipitation estimation by radar is subjected to many limitations and uncertainties. The use of dual-polarization at high frequency (i.e. X-band) has proven particularly useful for mitigating some of the limitation of operational systems, by exploiting the benefit of easiness to transport and deploy and the high spatial and temporal resolution achievable at small antenna sizes. New developments on X-band dual-polarization technology in recent years have received the interest of scientific and operational communities in these systems. New enterprises are focusing on the advancement of cost-efficient mini-radar network technology, based on high-frequency (mainly X-band) and low-power weather radar systems for weather monitoring and hydro-meteorological forecasting. Within the above context, the main objective of the HYDRORAD project was the development of an innovative \\mbox{integrated} decision support tool for weather monitoring and hydro-meteorological applications. The integrated system tool is based on a polarimetric X-band mini-radar network which is the core of the decision support tool, a novel radar products generator and a hydro-meteorological forecast modelling system that ingests mini-radar rainfall products to forecast precipitation and floods. The radar products generator includes algorithms for attenuation correction, hydrometeor classification, a vertical profile reflectivity correction, a new polarimetric rainfall estimators developed for mini-radar observations, and short-term nowcasting of convective cells. The hydro-meteorological modelling system includes the Mesoscale Model 5 (MM5) and the Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center hydrologic and hydraulic modelling chain. The characteristics of this tool make it ideal to support flood monitoring and forecasting within urban environment and small-scale basins. Preliminary results, carried out during a field campaign in Moldova, showed that the mini-radar based hydro-meteorological forecasting system can constitute a suitable solution for local flood warning and civil flood protection applications.

scholarly journals Real-Time Calibration and Monitoring of Radar Reflectivity on Nationwide Dual-Polarization Weather Radar Network

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 2936
Author(s):  
Jeong-Eun Lee ◽  
Soohyun Kwon ◽  
Sung-Hwa Jung
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
Weather Radar ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Absolute Calibration ◽  
Dual Polarization ◽  
Ground Clutter ◽  
Radar Systems ◽  
Radar Network ◽  
Time Calibration

Monitoring calibration bias in reflectivity (ZH) in an operational S-band dual-polarization weather radar is the primary requisite for monitoring and prediction (nowcasting) of severe weather and routine weather forecasting using a weather radar network. For this purpose, we combined methods based on self-consistency (SC), ground clutter (GC) monitoring, and intercomparison to monitor the ZH in real time by complementing the limitations of each method. The absolute calibration bias can be calculated based on the SC between dual-polarimetric observations. Unfortunately, because SC is valid for rain echoes, it is impossible to monitor reflectivity during the non-precipitation period. GC monitoring is an alternative method for monitoring changes in calibration bias regardless of weather conditions. The statistics of GC ZH near radar depend on the changes in radar system status, such as antenna pointing and calibration bias. The change in GC ZH relative to the baseline was defined as the relative calibration adjustment (RCA). The calibration bias was estimated from the change in RCA, which was similar to that estimated from the SC. The ZH in the overlapping volume of adjacent radars was compared to verify the homogeneity of ZH over the radar network after applying the calibration bias estimated from the SC. The mean bias between two radars was approximately 0.0 dB after correcting calibration bias. We can conclude that the combined method makes it possible to use radar measurements, which are immune to calibration bias, and to diagnose malfunctioning radar systems as soon as possible.

The Weatherman

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-281
Author(s):  
Martin Skrydstrup
Keyword(s):  
Local Knowledge ◽  
El Niño ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Public Trust ◽  
Scenario Planning ◽  
Scientific Expertise ◽  
Central Highlands

This article explores weather forecasting as an emergent technology of governmentality through a detailed ethnography of the ways in which the relationships between weather and crops are rendered knowable in a two-day “participatory scenario planning” (PSP) workshop in Naromoru in the Central Highlands of Kenya. Farmers were “made into meteorologists” and developed their preparedness for hazards, impacts, opportunities, strategies, and responsibilities within the context of facing El Niño. The ethnography targets seemingly novel ways of preparing farmers for El Niño. I argue that the PSP served two principal functions: (1) to redistribute responsibilities of the farmers themselves by making them into “meteorologists”; and (2) to integrate “scientific expertise” with “local knowledge” to generate public trust in the metrological institutions of the postcolonial predictive state.

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