Project News: Start of 2009 Phased Array Radar Innovative Sensing Experiment (PARISE) !
New this spring is the real-time implementation of an adaptive scanning software, ADAPTS, developed by NSSL. The ADAPTS, which stands for Adaptive DSP Algorithm for PAR Timely Scans, periodically (~5 min) completes a volumetric surveillance scan, which is used to determine where weather echoes are located. Following a surveillance scan, data collection continues contiguously at low elevation angles (e.g., 0.5–2.5°) and is then limited to areas with weather echoes and a limited region around them. Between surveillance scans, ADAPTS allows the data collection footprint for a given storm to advect and also to expand or shrink in response to storm growth or decay.
Also new this spring is the development and use of three storm-type scanning strategies designed to sample 1) non-severe thunderstorms, 2) hail storms, and 3) supercells.
Detailed descriptions of ADAPTS and the storm-type scanning strategies are available in the 2009 PARISE operations plan.
Important Participant Information
- 2009 PARISE Operations Plan (.pdf, 1.44)
- 2009 PARISE Training Presentation (ppt, 7.15 MB)
- 2009 PARISE Questionnaire
Realtime Data Displays
Early detection of rapidly developing hazardous storms requires rapid-scan radar. The National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT), located in Norman, Oklahoma, collects data from a 9.38-cm, single-faced, phased array radar (PAR) antenna. The PAR supports adaptive scanning and implementation of non-traditional scanning strategies that volumetrically scans storms in time scales of ~1-min rather 4+ minutes. Such high temporal sampling provides unprecedented opportunity to research rapidly evolving weather phenomena and explore the potential to extend warning lead-time for severe weather.
The 2009 Phased Array Radar Innovative Sensing Experiment will run 27 April through 14 June 2009. The primary objective of the experiment is to explore how to best capitalize on PAR capabilities to address 21st century forecast and warning needs. To help reach this objective, during the experiment forecasters from National Weather Service forecast offices across the nation evaluate the potential operational utility of PAR data. And, research scientists investigate the scientific implications and advancements attainable with PAR data.
Recently Published Papers on Weather Surveillance By Phased Array Radar
Presentations illustrating and comparing the rapid-update capability of the PAR antenna to the WSR-88D.
- Overview Seminar on Phased Array Radar (.ppt, 119 MB)
This page is maintained by Dr. Pam Heinselman. 
Contact Information:
Dr. Pam Heinselman, Research Meteorologist
National Weather Center, David L. Boren Blvd.
Radar Research and Development Division
Norman, OK 73072
(405) 325-6595; Pam.Heinselman@noaa.gov