scholarly journals Implementation of polarization diversity pulse-pair technique using airborne W-band radar

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 253-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengistu Wolde ◽  
Alessandro Battaglia ◽  
Cuong Nguyen ◽  
Andrew L. Pazmany ◽  
Anthony Illingworth
Keyword(s):  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Pulse Repetition Frequency ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Polarization Diversity ◽  
Pulse Pair ◽  
W Band ◽  
Standard Pulse ◽  
Very High

Abstract. This work describes the implementation of polarization diversity on the National Research Council Canada W-band Doppler radar and presents the first-ever airborne Doppler measurements derived via polarization diversity pulse-pair processing. The polarization diversity pulse-pair measurements are interleaved with standard pulse-pair measurements with staggered pulse repetition frequency, this allows a better understanding of the strengths and drawbacks of polarization diversity, a methodology that has been recently proposed for wind-focused Doppler radar space missions. Polarization diversity has the clear advantage of making possible Doppler observations of very fast decorrelating media (as expected when deploying Doppler radars on fast-moving satellites) and of widening the Nyquist interval, thus enabling the observation of very high Doppler velocities (up to more than 100 m s−1 in the present work). Crosstalk between the two polarizations, mainly caused by depolarization at backscattering, deteriorated the quality of the observations by introducing ghost echoes in the power signals and by increasing the noise level in the Doppler measurements. In the different cases analyzed during the field campaigns, the regions affected by crosstalk were generally associated with highly depolarized surface returns and depolarization of backscatter from hydrometeors located at short ranges from the aircraft. The variance of the Doppler velocity estimates can be well predicted from theory and were also estimated directly from the observed correlation between the H-polarized and V-polarized successive pulses. The study represents a key milestone towards the implementation of polarization diversity in Doppler space-borne radars.

scholarly journals Implementation of Polarization Diversity Pulse Pair Technique using airborne W-band radar

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengistu Wolde ◽  
Alessandro Battaglia ◽  
Cuong Nguyen ◽  
Andrew L. Pazmany ◽  
Anthony Illingworth
Keyword(s):  
Cross Talk ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Pulse Repetition Frequency ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Polarization Diversity ◽  
Pulse Pair ◽  
W Band ◽  
Standard Pulse

Abstract. This work describes the implementation of polarization diversity on the National Research Council Canada W-band Doppler radar and presents the first-ever airborne Doppler measurements derived via polarization diversity pulse pair processing. The polarization diversity pulse pair measurements are interleaved with standard pulse pair measurements with staggered pulse repetition frequency; this allows a better understanding of the strengths and drawbacks of polarization diversity, a methodology that has been recently proposed for wind-focussed Doppler radar space missions. Polarization diversity has the clear advantage of making possible Doppler observations of very fast de-correlating media (as expected when deploying Doppler radars on fast moving satellites) and of widening the Nyquist interval, thus enabling the observation of very high Doppler velocities (up to more than 100 m/s in present work). Cross-talk between the two polarizations, mainly caused by depolarization at backscattering deteriorated the quality of the observations by introducing ghost echoes in the power signals and by increasing the noise level in the Doppler measurements. In the different cases analyzed during the field campaigns, the regions affected by cross-talk were generally associated with highly depolarized surface returns and depolarization of backscatter from hydrometeors located at short ranges from the air craft. The variance of the Doppler velocity estimates can be well predicted from theory and were also estimated directly from the observed correlation between the H-polarized and V-polarized successive pulses. The study represents a key milestone towards the implementation of polarization diver sity in Doppler space-borne radars.

scholarly journals Polarization Diversity for Millimeter Spaceborne Doppler Radars: An Answer for Observing Deep Convection?

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 2768-2787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Battaglia ◽  
Simone Tanelli ◽  
Pavlos Kollias
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Scattering ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Polarization Diversity ◽  
Ka Band ◽  
Convective Clouds ◽  
Pulse Pair ◽  
W Band

Abstract Spaceborne Doppler radars have the potential to provide key missing observations of convective vertical air motions especially over the tropical oceans. Such measurements can improve understanding of the role of tropical convection in vertical energy transport and its interaction with the environment. Several millimeter wavelength Doppler radar concepts have been proposed since the 1990s. The Earth Clouds, Aerosols, and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) will be the first Dopplerized atmospheric radar in space but has not been optimized for Doppler measurements in deep convective clouds. The key challenge that constrains the CPR performance in convective clouds is the range–Doppler dilemma. Polarization diversity (PD) offers a solution to this constraint by decoupling the coherency (Doppler) requirement from the unambiguous range requirement. Careful modeling of the radar signal depolarization and its impact on radar receiver channel cross talk is needed to accurately assess the performance of the PD approach. The end-to-end simulator presented in this work allows reproduction of the signal sensed by a Doppler radar equipped with polarization diversity when overpassing realistic three-dimensional convective cells, with all relevant cross-talk sources accounted for. The notional study highlights that multiple scattering is the primary source of cross talk, highly detrimental for millimeter Doppler velocity accuracy. The ambitious scientific requirement of 1 m s−1 accuracy at 500-m integration for reflectivities above −15 dBZ are within reach for a W-band radar with a 2.5-m antenna with optimal values of the pulse-pair interval between 20 and 30 μs but only once multiple scattering and ghost-contaminated regions are screened out. The identification of such areas is key for Doppler accuracies and can be achieved by employing an interlaced pulse-pair mode that measures the cross and the copolar reflectivities. To mitigate the impact of attenuation and multiple scattering, the Ka band has been considered as either alternative or additional to the W band. However, a Ka system produces worse Doppler performances than a W-band system with the same 2.5-m antenna size. Furthermore, in deep convection it results in similar levels of multiple scattering and therefore it does not increase significantly the depth of penetration. In addition, the larger footprint causes stronger nonuniform beam-filling effects. One advantage of the Ka-band option is the larger Nyquist velocity that tends to reduce the Doppler accuracies. More significant benefits are derived from the Ka band when observing precipitation not as intense as the deep convection is considered here. This study demonstrates that polarization diversity indeed represents a very promising methodology capable of significantly reducing aliasing and Doppler moment estimate errors, two main error sources for Doppler velocity estimates in deep convective systems and a key step to achieving typical mission requirements for convection-oriented millimeter radar-based spaceborne missions.

scholarly journals ERUO: a spectral processing routine for the MRR-PRO

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso Ferrone ◽  
Anne-Claire Marie Billault-Roux ◽  
Alexis Berne
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Wave ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Doppler Spectrum ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Spectral Processing ◽  
W Band ◽  
X Band ◽  
Radar Information ◽  
Rain Radar

Abstract. The Micro Rain Radar (MRR) PRO is a K-band Doppler weather radar, using frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signals, developed by Metek Meteorologische Messtechnik GmbH (Metek) as successor to the MRR-2. Benefiting from four datasets collected during two field campaigns in Antarctica and Switzerland, we developed a processing library for snowfall measurements, named ERUO (Enhancement and Reconstruction of the spectrUm for the MRR-PRO), with a two-fold objective. Firstly, the proposed method addresses a series of issues plaguing the radar variables, which include interference lines, power drops at the extremes of the Doppler spectrum and abrupt cutoff of the transfer function. Secondly, the algorithm aims to improve the quality of the final variables, by lowering the minimum detectable equivalent attenuated reflectivity factor and extending the valid Doppler velocity range through antialiasing. The performance of the algorithm has been tested against the measurements of a co-located W-band Doppler radar. Information from a close-by X-Band Doppler dual-polarization radar has been used to exclude unsuitable radar volumes from the comparison. Particular attention has been dedicated to verify the estimation of the meteorological signal in the spectra covered by interferences.

scholarly journals Doppler W-band polarization diversity spaceborne radar simulator for wind studies

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Battaglia ◽  
Ranvir Dhillon ◽  
Anthony Illingworth
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Polarization Diversity ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Uniform Beam ◽  
W Band ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. CloudSat observations are used in combination with collocated ECMWF wind reanalysis to simulate spaceborne W-band Doppler observations from slant-looking radars. The simulator also includes cross-polarization effects which are relevant if the Doppler velocities are derived from polarization diversity pulse pair correlation. A specific conically scanning radar configuration (WIVERN), recently proposed to the ESA-Earth Explorer 10 call that aims to provide global in-cloud winds for data assimilation, is analysed in detail in this study. One hundred granules of CloudSat data are exploited to investigate the impact on Doppler velocity estimates from three specific effects: (1) non-uniform beam filling, (2) wind shear, and (3) cross talk between orthogonal polarization channels induced by hydrometeors and surface targets. Errors associated with non-uniform beam filling constitute the most important source of error and can account for almost 1 m s−1 standard deviation, but this can be reduced effectively to less than 0.5 m s−1 by adopting corrections based on estimates of vertical reflectivity gradients. Wind-shear-induced errors are generally much smaller (~ 0.2 m s−1). A methodology for correcting such errors has been developed based on estimates of the vertical wind shear and the reflectivity gradient. Low signal-to-noise ratios lead to higher random errors (especially in winds) and therefore the correction (particularly the one related to the wind-shear induced error) is less effective at low signal-to-noise ratio. Both errors can be underestimated in our model because the CloudSat data do not fully sample the spatial variability of the reflectivity fields whereas the ECMWF reanalysis may have smoother velocity fields than in reality (e.g. they underestimate vertical wind shear). The simulator allows quantification of the average number of accurate measurements that could be gathered by the Doppler radar for each polar orbit, which is strongly impacted by the selection of the polarization diversity H – V pulse separation, Thv. For WIVERN a selection close to 20 μs (with a corresponding folding velocity equal to 40 m s−1) seems to achieve the right balance between maximizing the number of accurate wind measurements (exceeding 10 % of the time at any particular level in the mid-troposphere), and minimizing aliasing effects in the presence of high winds. The study lays the foundation for future studies towards a thorough assessment of the performance of polar orbiting wide-swath W-band Doppler radars on a global scale. The next generation of scanning cloud radar systems and reanalyses with improved resolution will enable full capture of the spatial variability of the cloud reflectivity and the in-cloud wind fields, thus refining the results of this study.

scholarly journals Near-Surface Vortex Structure in a Tornado and in a Sub-Tornado-Strength Convective-Storm Vortex Observed by a Mobile, W-Band Radar during VORTEX2

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (11) ◽  
pp. 3661-3690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin L. Tanamachi ◽  
Howard B. Bluestein ◽  
Ming Xue ◽  
Wen-Chau Lee ◽  
Krzysztof A. Orzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Convective Storm ◽  
Azimuthal Component ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Kinematic Evolution ◽  
W Band

Abstract As part of the Second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) field campaign, a very high-resolution, mobile, W-band Doppler radar collected near-surface (≤200 m AGL) observations in an EF-0 tornado near Tribune, Kansas, on 25 May 2010 and in sub-tornado-strength vortices near Prospect Valley, Colorado, on 26 May 2010. In the Tribune case, the tornado's condensation funnel dissipated and then reformed after a 3-min gap. In the Prospect Valley case, no condensation funnel was observed, but evidence from the highest-resolution radars in the VORTEX2 fleet indicates multiple, sub-tornado-strength vortices near the surface, some with weak-echo holes accompanying Doppler velocity couplets. Using high-resolution Doppler radar data, the authors document the full life cycle of sub-tornado-strength vortex beneath a convective storm that previously produced tornadoes. The kinematic evolution of these vortices, from genesis to decay, is investigated via ground-based velocity track display (GBVTD) analysis of the W-band velocity data. It is found that the azimuthal velocities in the Tribune tornado fluctuated in concert with the (dis)appearance of the condensation funnel. However, the dynamic pressure drop associated with the retrieved azimuthal winds was not sufficient to account for the condensation funnel. In the Prospect Valley case, the strongest and longest-lived sub-tornado-strength vortex exhibited similar azimuthal velocity structure to the Tribune tornado, but had weaker azimuthal winds. In both cases, the radius of maximum azimuthal wind was inversely related to the wind speed, and changes in the axisymmetric azimuthal component of velocity were consistent with independent indicators of vortex intensification and decay.

A W-Band Radar–Radiometer System for Accurate and Continuous Monitoring of Clouds and Precipitation

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 2375-2392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Küchler ◽  
Stefan Kneifel ◽  
Ulrich Löhnert ◽  
Pavlos Kollias ◽  
Harald Czekala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Wave ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
External Source ◽  
Automatic Regulation ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Liquid Water Path ◽  
Vertical Column ◽  
Range Resolution ◽  
Transmitter Power ◽  
W Band

AbstractA new 94-GHz frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) Doppler radar–radiometer system [Jülich Observatory for Cloud Evolution (JOYCE) Radar–94 GHz (JOYRAD-94)] is presented that is suitable for long-term continuous observations of cloud and precipitation processes. New features of the system include an optimally beam-matched radar–radiometer; a vertical resolution of up to 5 m with sensitivities down to −62 dBZ at 100-m distance; adjustable measurement configurations within the vertical column to account for different observational requirements; an automatic regulation of the transmitter power to avoid receiver saturation; and a high-powered blowing system that prevents hydrometeors from adhering to the radome. JOYRAD-94 has been calibrated with an uncertainty of 0.5 dB that was assessed by observing a metal sphere in the radar’s far field and by comparing radar reflectivities to a collocated 35-GHz radar. The calibrations of the radar receiver and the radiometric receiver are performed via a two-point calibration with liquid nitrogen. The passive channel at 89 GHz is particularly useful for deriving an estimate of the liquid water path (LWP). The developed retrieval shows that the LWP can be retrieved with an RMS uncertainty (not including potential calibration offsets) of about ±15 g m−2 when constraining the integrated water vapor from an external source with an uncertainty of ±2 kg m−2. Finally, a dealiasing method [dual-radar dealiasing method (DRDM)] for FMCW Doppler spectra is introduced that combines measurements of two collocated radars with different measurement setups. The DRDM ensures high range resolution with a wide unambiguous Doppler velocity range.

scholarly journals Doppler W-band polarization diversity space-borne radar simulator for wind studies

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 5965-5979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Battaglia ◽  
Ranvir Dhillon ◽  
Anthony Illingworth
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind Shear ◽  
Vertical Wind ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Polarization Diversity ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Uniform Beam ◽  
W Band ◽  
Ecmwf Reanalysis

Abstract. CloudSat observations are used in combination with collocated European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis to simulate space-borne W-band Doppler observations from slant-looking radars. The simulator also includes cross-polarization effects which are relevant if the Doppler velocities are derived from polarization diversity pulse pair correlation. A specific conically scanning radar configuration (WIVERN), recently proposed to the ESA-Earth Explorer 10 call that aims to provide global in-cloud winds for data assimilation, is analysed in detail in this study. One hundred granules of CloudSat data are exploited to investigate the impact on Doppler velocity estimates from three specific effects: (1) non-uniform beam filling, (2) wind shear and (3) crosstalk between orthogonal polarization channels induced by hydrometeors and surface targets. Errors associated with non-uniform beam filling constitute the most important source of error and can account for almost 1 m s−1 standard deviation, but this can be reduced effectively to less than 0.5 m s−1 by adopting corrections based on estimates of vertical reflectivity gradients. Wind-shear-induced errors are generally much smaller (∼0.2 m s−1). A methodology for correcting these errors has been developed based on estimates of the vertical wind shear and the reflectivity gradient. Low signal-to-noise ratios lead to higher random errors (especially in winds) and therefore the correction (particularly the one related to the wind-shear-induced error) is less effective at low signal-to-noise ratio. Both errors can be underestimated in our model because the CloudSat data do not fully sample the spatial variability of the reflectivity fields, whereas the ECMWF reanalysis may have smoother velocity fields than in reality (e.g. they underestimate vertical wind shear). The simulator allows for quantification of the average number of accurate measurements that could be gathered by the Doppler radar for each polar orbit, which is strongly impacted by the selection of the polarization diversity H−V pulse separation, Thv. For WIVERN a selection close to 20 µs (with a corresponding folding velocity equal to 40 m s−1) seems to achieve the right balance between maximizing the number of accurate wind measurements (exceeding 10 % of the time at any particular level in the mid-troposphere) and minimizing aliasing effects in the presence of high winds. The study lays the foundation for future studies towards a thorough assessment of the performance of polar orbiting wide-swath W-band Doppler radars on a global scale. The next generation of scanning cloud radar systems and reanalyses with improved resolution will enable a full capture of the spatial variability of the cloud reflectivity and the in-cloud wind fields, thus refining the results of this study.

scholarly journals Correction of Dual-PRF Doppler Velocity Outliers in the Presence of Aliasing

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1529-1543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Altube ◽  
Joan Bech ◽  
Oriol Argemí ◽  
Tomeu Rigo ◽  
Nicolau Pineda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Models ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Pulse Repetition Frequency ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Velocity Fields ◽  
Circular Statistics ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Quality Issue ◽  
Improved Performance

AbstractIn Doppler weather radars, the presence of unfolding errors or outliers is a well-known quality issue for radial velocity fields estimated using the dual–pulse repetition frequency (PRF) technique. Postprocessing methods have been developed to correct dual-PRF outliers, but these need prior application of a dealiasing algorithm for an adequate correction. This paper presents an alternative procedure based on circular statistics that corrects dual-PRF errors in the presence of extended Nyquist aliasing. The correction potential of the proposed method is quantitatively tested by means of velocity field simulations and is exemplified in the application to real cases, including severe storm events. The comparison with two other existing correction methods indicates an improved performance in the correction of clustered outliers. The technique proposed is well suited for real-time applications requiring high-quality Doppler radar velocity fields, such as wind shear and mesocyclone detection algorithms, or assimilation in numerical weather prediction models.

scholarly journals Measurements and Simulations of Nadir-Viewing Radar Returns from the Melting Layer at X and W Bands

2009 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 2215-2226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Liao ◽  
Robert Meneghini ◽  
Lin Tian ◽  
Gerald M. Heymsfield
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Dielectric Constants ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Regional Study ◽  
Melting Layer ◽  
Bright Band ◽  
W Band ◽  
X Band

Abstract Simulated radar signatures within the melting layer in stratiform rain—namely, the radar bright band—are checked by means of comparisons with simultaneous measurements of the bright band made by the ER-2 Doppler radar (EDOP; X band) and Cloud Radar System (CRS; W band) airborne Doppler radars during the Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers–Florida-Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) campaign in 2002. A stratified-sphere model, allowing the fractional water content to vary along the radius of the particle, is used to compute the scattering properties of individual melting snowflakes. Using the effective dielectric constants computed by the conjugate gradient–fast Fourier transform numerical method for X and W bands and expressing the fractional water content of a melting particle as an exponential function in particle radius, it is found that at X band the simulated radar brightband profiles are in an excellent agreement with the measured profiles. It is also found that the simulated W-band profiles usually resemble the shapes of the measured brightband profiles even though persistent offsets between them are present. These offsets, however, can be explained by the attenuation caused by cloud water and water vapor at W band. This is confirmed by comparisons of the radar profiles made in the rain regions where the unattenuated W-band reflectivity profiles can be estimated through the X- and W-band Doppler velocity measurements. The brightband model described in this paper has the potential to be used effectively for both radar and radiometer algorithms relevant to the satellite-based Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission and Global Precipitation Measuring Mission.

Ground water quality of selected areas of Punjab and Sind Provinces, Pakistan: Chemical and microbiological aspects

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chem Int
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Concentration ◽  
Chloride Ions ◽  
Potassium Ions ◽  
Ammonium Ions ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Phosphate Ions ◽  
Sodium Magnesium ◽  
Very High ◽  
Microbiological Aspects

The assessment of groundwater is essential for the estimation of suitability of water for safe use. An attempt has been made to study the groundwater of selected areas of Punjab (Sheikhupura & Sahiwal) and Sindh (Sindh, Jawar Dharki and Dharki), Pakistan. The results indicate that pH, color and odor were all within limits of WHO that is pH ranges 6.5–8.5, colorless and odorless, respectively. The high values of suspended solids were observed in the Sindh-1 and Dharki samples. Microbiologically only Sahiwal and Jawar Dharki were found fit for drinking purpose. Trace metals analysis of Sheikhupura-1 and Sindh-1 showed that values do not fall within limits of WHO for Iron. The ionic concentration analysis showed that high bicarbonate (HCO3-), ions are present in the samples of Sahiwal and Dharki; Sindh-1 and Jawar Dharki samples showed very high concentration for chloride ions, all samples were satisfactory level for sulphate (SO42-), sodium, magnesium and phosphate ions except samples of Sindh-1 and Jawar Dharki. High concentration of calcium and potassium ions was observed in samples of Sindh-1, while all other samples were found fit for drinking purposes in respect of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium ions. The high concentration of Fluoride was found only in Sheikhupura-2 samples.

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