Long-range microwave radar networks are an important part of the weather forecasting and warning infrastructure used by many nations today. The observing capabilities of these networks have improved considerably over the past 60 years as new technologies--such as coherent high-power transmitters, solid-state electronics, Doppler and dual-polarization signal processing, open software architecture, and improved data dissemination and display technologies--have been developed and incorporated into the system design. Taking the U.S. weather radar network as an example, it is generally agreed that the improved performance and coverage of the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler [WSR-88D; Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD)] system, relative to thepredecessor WSR-57 and WSR-74 systems, has led to significant improvement in the short-range forecasting and warning of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods (Serafin and Wilson 2000; National Research Council 1995).
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