RAPID: Deployment of the UMass Simultaneous Frequency Microwave Radiometer (USFMR) for the 2019 Hurricane Season

在飓风期间获得表面风速的测量是极其困难的。 目前，在开放沃茨进行这些测量主要采用两种技术。 一种是下投式探空仪，这是一种由飞机投下的仪器包，在下降的过程中进行测量。 下投式探空仪的主要缺点是进行有限的点测量的费用。 另一种技术是一种称为微波辐射计的遥感仪器。 该项目将测试一种新的微波辐射计，它有可能提供更精确和准确的风速测量。 这些测量的改进将为研究人员提供更多的信息来测试他们的理论和模型，从而提高飓风预报的准确性。 此外，该项目还将为下一代科学家提供培训机会。这笔资金将用于在2019年飓风季节在NOAA P-3研究飞机上部署马萨诸塞州同步频率微波辐射计（USFMR）。 USFMR与目前的步进频率微波辐射计系统相比具有潜在的优势，因为它增加了双极化并并行测量所有频率，从而使测量时间减少4至5倍。 主要工作任务是在实验室中测试和校准USFMR，在NOAA P-3上运输和安装，在校准飞行和飓风任务期间操作仪器，然后处理亮温，10米风和柱综合降雨率的测量结果。 这些观测结果将与运行中的SFMR和投下式探空仪产生的观测结果进行比较，重点是眼墙和窄雨带的观测结果。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Obtaining measurements of surface wind speed during hurricanes is extremely difficult. At the present, there are two main techniques that are used to conduct these measurements in open waters. One is the dropsonde, which is an instrument package that is dropped by an aircraft and takes measurements on the way down. The main drawback of a dropsonde is the expense of making limited, point measurements. The other technique is a remote sensing instrument called a microwave radiometer. This project will test a new version of a microwave radiometer that has the potential to provide more precise and accurate measurements of wind speed. Improvements in these measurements would provide researchers more information to test their theories and models against, thereby increasing the accuracy of hurricane forecasts. In addition, the project will provide training opportunities for the next generation of scientists.This funding will be used to deploy the UMass Simultaneous Frequency Microwave Radiometer (USFMR) on the NOAA P-3 research aircraft for the 2019 hurricane season. The USFMR has potential advantages over the current Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer systems in that it adds dual-polarization and measures all frequencies in parallel, resulting in a 4 to 5-fold decrease in the measurement time. The main work tasks are the testing and calibration of the USFMR in the laboratory, shipment and installation on the NOAA P-3, operation of the instrument on the calibration flights and during the hurricane missions, and then processing the measurements for brightness temperatures, 10m winds, and column-integrated rain rates. The observations will be compared to those produced by the operational SFMR and dropsondes, with a focus on observations at the eyewall and in narrow rain bands.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.