Fine Scale Remote Sensing of Clouds Using Millimeter Wave Radars

该奖项是马萨诸塞大学（Amherst）的McIntosh教授、怀俄明大学（Laramie）的Vali教授和堪萨斯大学（Lawrence）的Gogineni教授合作项目的一部分。目的是利用毫米波雷达研究云的精细尺度结构。从历史上看，云的结构和动力学已经在两种截然不同的分辨率下进行了探索。一方面，航空微物理探针，如广泛使用的激光光学探针，其体积分辨率为1数量级。E-4到1。1秒样本的E-2 m3。另一方面，波长大于1厘米的地面研究雷达通常具有1数量级的体积分辨率。从E4到1。E7 m3。然而，云演化的一些重要过程介于这两个分辨率类别之间；这包括冰的形成、夹带、云内混合和合并的开始。由该奖项支持的毫米波雷达的开发将使科学家能够使用适当的工具更好地了解这些精细尺度过程。在该项目的前半部分，主要研究人员将在怀俄明大学麋鹿山天文台进行地面实验，并检查来自已知形状、大小和栖息地的35、95和215 GHz冰晶的雷达反向散射数据。在该项目的后半段，马萨诸塞大学的全极化95 GHz雷达将安装在NCAR空中之王研究飞机上；首席研究员将与NCAR的科学家合作，研究这样一个设施如何为更大的气象界服务。

This award is part of a collaborative project among Professor McIntosh of the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), Professor Vali of the University of Wyoming (Laramie), and Professor Gogineni of the University of Kansas (Lawrence). The objective is to study fine-scale structure of clouds using millimeter-wave radars. Historically, cloud structures and dynamics have been probed at two widely separate resolutions. On the one hand, airborne microphysical probes, such as the widely used laser optical probes, have volume resolution of the order of 1.E-4 to 1.E-2 m3 for 1-second samples. On the other hand, ground-based research radars at wavelengths greater than 1 cm typically have volume resolution of the order of 1.E4 to 1.E7 m3. However, some important processes in cloud evolution lie between these two resolution categories; these include ice formation, entrainment, in-cloud mixing, and initiation of coalescence. The development of depolyment of millimeter-wave radars supported by this award will allow scientists to better understand these fine-scale processes with appropriate tools. During the first half of this project, the Principal Investigators will conduct ground-based experiments at the UWyoming Elk Mountain Observatory and examine the radar backscatter data from ice crystals of known shape, size and habitats at 35, 95 and 215 GHz. During the second half of this project, the UMass fully polarimetric 95 GHz radar will be installed in the NCAR King Air research aircraft; collaborating with NCAR scientists, the Principal Investigators will investigate how such a facility can serve the greater meteorology community.