Development of C-band Mobile Polarimetric Radar

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The Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching (SMART) radar system has been used to study land-falling hurricanes, desert microbursts, tornadic supercell thunderstorms, and mountain snow storms. In this Major Research Instrumentation award, the SMART radar will be updated to become the only mobile, polarimetric C-band radar in the country. Polarimetric radars are capable of transmitting and receiving both vertically and horizontally, leading to improved measurements of various properties, such as droplet size and shape. As a truck-based system, it is completely mobile and can navigate to follow transient phenomena or fill in where other radars do not have adequate coverage. Hardware upgrades will include a new receiver, reflector, and pedestal. The PIs plan to use the radar for various studies, including: rainfall, cloud microphysics, cloud electrification, and storm dynamics. Other studies to improve the knowledge of microphysical properties from bulk polarimetric signatures could be determined by combining the SMART C-band with the available S and X-band radars at a test bed in Oklahoma. The PIs will make the radar available to the community as part of the national infrastructure for atmospheric science research and education. They anticipate a significant impact on education with major student involvement. This project will go forward with significant assistance from the University of Oklahoma and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).