Operational Evaluation of 5 CM Doppler Radar - Two Contributions: Review of WSR-74C Doppler Radar Operations at WSO Montgomery, Alabama (April 1982 - August 1983). The Johnson-Effect - Resolving Ambiguous Doppler Velocities

摘要

Researchers have been experimenting for many years with Doppler radar systems, looking for more reliable methods to gather and process more useful radar data (e.g., Lemon, Donaldson and Burgess, 1977). The National Weather Service (NWS) is rapidly moving forward with plans to replace the aging WSR-57 (10cm wavelength) radar network (Bonewitz, 1981; Ray and Colbert, 1982). It has become apparent through these and other research efforts and more recent radar technology, that any new network of meteorological radars must have Doppler capability (NSSL Staff, 1979). The NWS office in Montgomery, Alabama has been interested in this 'new radar technology' for several years and a working relationship with Enterprise Electronics Corp. (EEC) has provided their office with a look at some of the newer advances in meteorological radar equipment. In April, 1982, a request was made by Enterprise Electronics Corp. to the NWS for permission to install a Doppler add-on package to the WSR-74C (5cm) located at Montgomery, Alabama. The installation was to be on a loan basis with no designated termination date. It must be made clear that the prototype add-on equipment was by no means the ultimate in Doppler radar. However, later advances led to a more advanced system which was installed at Montgomery in July of 1983.