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Impact of WSR-88D intra-volume low-level scans on sever weather warning performance

July 1, 2022
  |
Journal Article
Author:
John Y. Cho
…
Published in:
Weather Forecast., Vol. 37, No. 7, July 2022, p. 1169-98.
Topic:
weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

The statistical relationship between supplemental adaptive intra-volume low-level scan (SAILS) usage on the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler and National Weather Service severe storm warning performance during 2014–20 is analyzed. Results show statistically significant improvement in severe thunderstorm (SVR), flash flood (FF), and tornado (TOR) warning performance associated with SAILS-on versus SAILS-off. Within the three possible SAILS modes of one (SAILSx1), two (SAILSx2), and three (SAILSx3) additional base scans per volume, for SVR, SAILSx2 and SAILSx3 are associated with better warning performance compared to SAILSx1; for FF and TOR, SAILSx3 is associated with better warning performance relative to SAILSx1 and SAILSx2. Two severe storm cases (one that spawned a tornado, one that did not) are presented where SAILS usage helped forecasters make the correct TOR warning decision, lending real-life credence to the statistical results. Furthermore, a statistical analysis of automated volume scan evaluation and termination effects, parsed by SAILS usage and mode, yield a statistically significant association between volume scan update rate and SVR warning lead time.
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Summary

The statistical relationship between supplemental adaptive intra-volume low-level scan (SAILS) usage on the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler and National Weather Service severe storm warning performance during 2014–20 is analyzed. Results show statistically significant improvement in severe thunderstorm (SVR), flash flood (FF), and tornado (TOR) warning performance associated with SAILS-on versus...

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Impact of WSR-88D intra-volume low-level scans on sever weather warning performance

Towards the next generation operational meteorological radar

July 1, 2021
  |
Journal Article
Author:
Mark E. Weber
…
Published in:
Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc., Vol. 102, No. 7, July 2021, pp. E1357-82.
Topic:
radar
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

This article summarizes research and risk reduction that will inform acquisition decisions regarding NOAA's future national operational weather radar network. A key alternative being evaluated is polarimetric phased-array radar (PAR). Research indicates PAR can plausibly achieve fast, adaptive volumetric scanning, with associated benefits for severe-weather warning performance. We assess these benefits using storm observations and analyses, observing system simulation experiments, and real radar-data assimilation studies. Changes in the number and/or locations of radars in the future network could improve coverage at low altitude. Analysis of benefits that might be so realized indicates the possibility for additional improvement in severe weather and flash-flood warning performance, with associated reduction in casualties. Simulations are used to evaluate techniques for rapid volumetric scanning and assess data quality characteristics of PAR. Finally, we describe progress in developing methods to compensate for polarimetric variable estimate biases introduced by electronic beam-steering. A research-to-operations (R2O) strategy for the PAR alternative for the WSR-88D replacement network is presented.
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Summary

This article summarizes research and risk reduction that will inform acquisition decisions regarding NOAA's future national operational weather radar network. A key alternative being evaluated is polarimetric phased-array radar (PAR). Research indicates PAR can plausibly achieve fast, adaptive volumetric scanning, with associated benefits for severe-weather warning performance. We assess these...

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Towards the next generation operational meteorological radar

Command and control for multifunction phased array radar

October 1, 2017
  |
Journal Article
Author:
Mark E. Weber
…
Published in:
IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., Vol. 55, No. 10, October 2017, pp. 5899-5912.
Topic:
algorithms
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

We discuss the challenge of managing the Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) timeline to satisfy the requirements of its multiple missions, with a particular focus on weather surveillance. This command and control (C2) function partitions the available scan time among these missions, exploits opportunities to service multiple missions simultaneously, and utilizes techniques for increasing scan rate where feasible. After reviewing the candidate MPAR architectures and relevant previous research, we describe a specific C2 framework that is consistent with a demonstrated active array architecture using overlapped subarrays to realize multiple, concurrent receive beams. Analysis of recently articulated requirements for near-airport and national-scale aircraft surveillance indicates that with this architecture, 40–60% of the MPAR scan timeline would be available for the high-fidelity weather observations currently provided by the Weather Service Radar (WSR-88D) network. We show that an appropriate use of subarray generated concurrent receive beams, in concert with previously documented, complementary techniques to increase the weather scan rate, could enable MPAR to perform full weather volume scans at a rate of 1 per minute. Published observing system simulation experiments, human-in-the-loop studies and radar-data assimilation experiments indicate that high-quality weather radar observations at this rate may significantly improve the lead time and reliability of severe weather warnings relative to current observation capabilities.
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Summary

We discuss the challenge of managing the Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) timeline to satisfy the requirements of its multiple missions, with a particular focus on weather surveillance. This command and control (C2) function partitions the available scan time among these missions, exploits opportunities to service multiple missions simultaneously, and...

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Command and control for multifunction phased array radar

Secondary Surveillance Phased Array Radar (SSPAR): initial feasibility study

February 6, 2014
  |
Project Report
Author:
Mark E. Weber
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-416
Topic:
radar
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is deploying Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) to provide next-generation surveillance derived through down- and cross-link of global positioning satellite (GPS) navigation data. While ADS-B will be the primary future surveillance system, FAA recognizes that backup surveillance capabilities must be provided to assure that air traffic control (ATC) services can continue to be provided when individual aircraft transponders fail and during localized, short-duration GPS outages. This report describes a potential ADS-B backup capability, Secondary Surveillance Phased Array Radar or SSPAR. SSPAR will interrogate aircraft transponders and receive replies using a sparse, non-rotating array of approximately 17 omnidirectional (in azimuth) antennae. Each array element will transmit and receive independently so as to form directional transmit beams for transponder interrogation, and support high-resolution direction finding for received signals. Because each SSPAR element is independently digitized, transponder returns from all azimuths can be equipped with Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) and ADS-B avionics to reduce spectrum usage and maintain the high surveillance update rate (~1 per second) achieved by ADS-B. Recurring costs for SSPAR will be low since it involves no moving parts and the number of array channels is small. This report describes an SSPAR configuration supporting terminal operations. We consider interrogation and receive approaches, antenna array configuration, signal processing and preliminary performance analysis. An analysis of SSPAR's impact on spectrum congestion in the beacon radar band is presented, as are concepts for integrating SSPAR and next generation primary radar to improve the efficiency and accuracy of aircraft and weather surveillance.
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Summary

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is deploying Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) to provide next-generation surveillance derived through down- and cross-link of global positioning satellite (GPS) navigation data. While ADS-B will be the primary future surveillance system, FAA recognizes that backup surveillance capabilities must be provided to assure that air traffic...

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Secondary Surveillance Phased Array Radar (SSPAR): initial feasibility study

Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR): achieving Next Generation Surveillance and Weather Radar Capability

September 1, 2013
  |
Journal Article
Author:
Mark E. Weber
…
Published in:
J. Air Traffic Control, Vol. 55, No. 3, Fall 2013, pp. 40-7.
Topic:
radar
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Within DOT, the FAA has initiated an effort known as the NextGen Surveillance and Weather Radar Capability (NSWRC) to analyze the need for the next generation radar replacement and assess viable implementation alternatives. One concept under analysis is multifunction radar using phased-array technology -- Multifunction Phased Array Radar or MPAR.
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Summary

Within DOT, the FAA has initiated an effort known as the NextGen Surveillance and Weather Radar Capability (NSWRC) to analyze the need for the next generation radar replacement and assess viable implementation alternatives. One concept under analysis is multifunction radar using phased-array technology -- Multifunction Phased Array Radar or MPAR.

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Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR): achieving Next Generation Surveillance and Weather Radar Capability

An assessment of the operational utility of a GOES lightning mapping sensor

May 28, 2013
  |
Project Report
Author:
Mark E. Weber
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report NOAA-18A
Topic:
surveillance
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

This report evaluates the incremental operational benefits of a proposed Lightning Mapping Sensor (LMS) for NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). If deployed, LMS would provide continuous, real-time surveillance of total lightning activity over large portions of the North and South American continents and surrounding oceans. In contrast to the current National Lightning Detection Network, LMS would monitor total lightning activity, including the dominant intracloud component which is estimated to occur with order of magnitude greater frequency than cloud-to-ground lightning and may occur ten minutes or more in advance of a storm's first ground flash.
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Summary

This report evaluates the incremental operational benefits of a proposed Lightning Mapping Sensor (LMS) for NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). If deployed, LMS would provide continuous, real-time surveillance of total lightning activity over large portions of the North and South American continents and surrounding oceans. In contrast to the...

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An assessment of the operational utility of a GOES lightning mapping sensor

Low cost multifunction phased array radar concept

October 12, 2010
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
Jeffrey S. Herd
…
Published in:
2010 IEEE Int. Symp. on Phased Array Systems, 12 October 2010.
Topic:
radar
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory and M/A-COM are jointly conducting a technology demonstration of affordable Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) technology for Next Generation air traffic control and national weather surveillance services. Aggressive cost and performance goals have been established for the system. The array architecture and its realization using custom Transmit and Receive Integrated Circuits and a panel-based Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) will be presented. A program plan for risk reduction and system demonstration will be outlined.
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Summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory and M/A-COM are jointly conducting a technology demonstration of affordable Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) technology for Next Generation air traffic control and national weather surveillance services. Aggressive cost and performance goals have been established for the system. The array architecture and its realization using custom Transmit...

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Low cost multifunction phased array radar concept

Advanced architecture for a low cost multifunction phased array radar

May 23, 2010
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
Jeffrey S. Herd
…
Published in:
2010 IEEE/MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp., 23-28 May 2010, pp. 676-679.
Topic:
radar
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIA-COM are jointly conducting a technology demonstration of affordable Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) technology for Next Generation air traffic control and national weather surveillance services. Aggressive cost and performance goals have been established for the system. The array architecture and its realization using custom Transmit and Receive Integrated Circuits and a panel-based Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) will be presented. A program plan for risk reduction and system demonstration will be outlined.
READ LESS

Summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIA-COM are jointly conducting a technology demonstration of affordable Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) technology for Next Generation air traffic control and national weather surveillance services. Aggressive cost and performance goals have been established for the system. The array architecture and its realization using custom Transmit...

READ MORE
Advanced architecture for a low cost multifunction phased array radar

Multifunction phased array radar (MPAR) for aircraft and weather surveillance

May 10, 2010
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
Jeffrey S. Herd
…
Published in:
2010 IEEE Radar Conf., 10 May 2010.
Topic:
radar
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory and M/A-COM are jointly conducting a technology demonstration of affordable Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) technology for Next Generation air traffic control and national weather surveillance services. Aggressive cost and performance goals have been established for the system. The array architecture and its realization using custom Transmit and Receive Integrated Circuits and a panel-based Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) will be presented. A program plan for risk reduction and system demonstration will be outlined.
READ LESS

Summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory and M/A-COM are jointly conducting a technology demonstration of affordable Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) technology for Next Generation air traffic control and national weather surveillance services. Aggressive cost and performance goals have been established for the system. The array architecture and its realization using custom Transmit...

READ MORE
Multifunction phased array radar (MPAR) for aircraft and weather surveillance

Terminal Doppler Weather Radar enhancements

May 10, 2010
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
John Y. Cho
…
Published in:
IEEE Radar Conf., 10 May 2010, pp. 1245-1249.
Topic:
algorithms
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

The design of an open radar data acquisition system for the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar is presented. Adaptive signal transmission and processing techniques that take advantage of the enhanced capabilities of this new system are also discussed. Results displaying data quality improvements with respect to problems such as range-velocity ambiguity and moving clutter are shown.
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Summary

The design of an open radar data acquisition system for the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar is presented. Adaptive signal transmission and processing techniques that take advantage of the enhanced capabilities of this new system are also discussed. Results displaying data quality improvements with respect to problems such as range-velocity ambiguity...

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Terminal Doppler Weather Radar enhancements
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