CIF: Mobile Rapid Scanning Radar for Enhancing Weather Radar Research and Education

该社区仪器和设施(CIF)奖将为支持车载快速扫描X波段极化(RaXPol)雷达作为社区仪器提供资金。雷达的开发最初是由美国国家科学基金会主要研究仪器(MRI)计划于2008年资助的。CIF RaXPol奖将为社区提供访问快速扫描、高度灵活的双极化雷达的机会，该雷达可以实现新的科学发现并提供独特的教育机会。快速扫描雷达数据可以在龙卷风发生、深对流和电气化、野火后水文学和山洪暴发、湖泊效应和地形暴风雪以及热带气旋等方面进行新的研究。雷达还将被用作教育和推广工具，为学生提供与最先进的仪器互动的机会。RaXPol将由俄克拉荷马大学高级雷达研究中心(ARRC)维护，该中心在复杂雷达系统的设计和操作方面具有长期经验。RaXPol提供直接和可靠的双极化天气观测的快速更新，这对于研究高影响和快速演变的天气事件是非常必要的。它可以快速部署实时数据传输能力，并在扫描策略上提供灵活性，以高时空分辨率将观测集中在感兴趣的区域。流动的RaXPol设施可以前往不同的地点进行科学探索和研究，这使得不同的机构和代表不足的群体可以通过实践活动进行学习体验。该奖项将提高更广泛的科学界通过大气和地球空间科学设施申请程序使用雷达的能力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Community Instruments and Facilities (CIF) award will provide funding for the support of a truck-mounted Rapid scan X-band Polarimetric (RaXPol) radar as a community instrument. Development of the radar was originally funded by the NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program in 2008. The CIF RaXPol award will provide community access to a rapid-scan, highly flexible, dual-polarization radar that can enable new scientific discoveries and provide unique educational opportunities. Rapid scan radar data can enable novel research in tornadogenesis, deep convection and electrification, post-wildfire hydrology and flash floods, lake-effect and orographic snowstorms, and tropical cyclones. The radar will also be used as an educational and outreach tool, providing opportunities for students to interact with state-of-the-art instrumentation. RaXPol will be maintained by the Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC) at the University of Oklahoma, which has long-standing experience in design and operation of complex radar systems.RaXPol provides rapid updates of direct and reliable dual-polarization weather observations which are much needed for the study of high impact and fast evolving weather events. It can be rapidly deployed with real-time data transmission capabilities and offers flexibility in scanning strategies to focus observations on areas of interest at high spatiotemporal resolution. The mobile RaXPol facility can travel to different locations for scientific exploration and research which allows diverse institutions and underrepresented groups to engage in learning experience with hands-on activities. This award will enhance the ability of the broader scientific community to use the radars through the Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences facility request process.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.