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National Weather Radar Testbed
NSSL's National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) is the official facility where phased array technology will be tested and evaluated. PAR has the potential to provide revolutionary improvements in NWS tornado, severe storm, and flash flood warnings. The phased array radar is expected to eventually replace the current network of WSR-88D radars. Scientists at NSSL and across the nation will be able to remotely operate the phased array radar to collect data in support of their research. A new Radar Control Interface (RCI) is being developed to simplify radar control and data collection operations. Hardware and software design and development carried out at NSSL have made the NWRT a world-class research facility.
The spring 2008 National Weather Radar Testbed Demonstration begins on 14 April and ends on 15 June 2008. To investigate the potential operational benefits of PAR technology, forecasters from National Weather Service forecast offices across the nation will be evaluating PAR data in real-time. Another key spring experiment is the multi-function phased array radar (MPAR) demonstration, which will test the PAR's capability to perform simultaneous surveillance of aircraft and weather echoes.
NSSL scientists have outlined broad goals for phased array technology:
- Demonstrate PAR technology can be applied to the tornado detection, forecast, and warning mission in a multi-use environment.
- Demonstrate skill in probabilistic forecasts of tornadoes and other severe weather events using ensembles of models that assimilate PAR data
- Determine if there is a viable economic strategy which would permit a national PAR network to support NOAA, DOT/FAA, DOD, Homeland Security and other national missions.
The SPY-1 Navy radar is being adapted for severe weather tracking
HISTORY OF PHASED ARRAY RADAR
Navy ships originally used AEGIS phased array radar (called SPY-1) technology to protect naval battle groups from missile threats. Researchers believe the same technology has great potential for increasing lead-time for tornado warnings.
In 2000, the U.S. Navy agreed to loan a phased array antenna to NSSL and provided the $10,000,000 in funding to help build the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT). The NWRT is a facility focused on developing faster and more accurate warning, analysis and forecast techniques for severe and hazardous weather using phased array and also upgraded WSR-88D radar technology. The National Weather Service provided the transmitter and the additional funding from NOAA, OU, Lockheed Martin, and OSRHE purchased the environmental processor. In addition, the FAA provided initial funding for research, program management and initial upgrades, and the NWS has donated equipment. The NWRT became operational in September 2003, the first data were collected in May, 2004, and data sets were collected during the 2005 storm season.
COLLABORATORS and PARTNERS
The National Weather Radar Testbed is a unique partnership among academia, industry, federal and state government agencies, and the Navy with a common goal of transforming military technology into a civilian research facility that will provide great benefit to the the nation.
- Basic Commerce and Industries
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Lockheed Martin
- NOAA
- NOAA/National Weather Service
- Office of Naval Research
- Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
- University of Oklahoma
