Douglas ForsythDouglas ForsythExecutive Director for Facilities and Strategic Executive Director for Facilities and Strategic

Planning Planning

andand

Chief, Radar Research & Development DivisionChief, Radar Research & Development Division December 2006

Presentation for the

Working Group for

Multifunction Phased Array Radar

OutlineOutline• BackgroundBackground• Funding HistoryFunding History• System OverviewSystem Overview• Data QualityData Quality• Upgrades CompletedUpgrades Completed• 11stst Tornadic Data Set Tornadic Data Set• Future UpgradesFuture Upgrades

CollaboratorsCollaboratorsJames KimpelDusan Zrnic

Ron Ferek

Tom McNellis

Richard Vogt

Jerry CrainAlan Shapiro

William Benner

John Heimmer

Behind the ScenesBehind the ScenesAllen Zahrai, Dick Doviak, Mike Schmidt and Richard Wahkinney

Roger Simer, Brian Frasco, Sheldon Katz, Tim Maese, Ann Wiser, Steven Silberstein, Wayne Sabin, Mark Campbell

Russell CookRichard Vogt

Susan Sedwick, John Havlicek

Jim Melody, Les Lemon, Bob Blasewitz

Nannette Kalani, Jim Olivo

Systems and Software Engineering

BCI BCI

Bob Staples, John Carter, Igor Ivic

More Behind the ScenesMore Behind the ScenesMark Benner, Mike Schmidt, Richard Wahkinney, Kurt Hondl, Allen Zahrai.

Bob Staples, Chris Curtis, Rick Adams, John Thompson, Dave Priegnitz, Dan Suppes

B. Ballard

Susan Sedwick

Jim Melody, Paul Baumgarder, Bob Blasewitz, Tim Maese

Nannette Kalani

Mark Campbell, Tim Maese, Wayne Sabin, Tim Hughes, John Petree

Additional CollaboratorsAdditional CollaboratorsQin Xu, Mike Jain

Pam Heinselman, Sebastian Torres

Gary Mitchell

Bob Palmer, Tian-You Yu, Mark Yeary, Phil Chilson, Guifu Zhang

HISTORYHISTORY

• NSSL Advance - 1997NSSL Advance - 1997– Desire to build a phased-array radar for weather Desire to build a phased-array radar for weather

applicationsapplications

• Visit by Lockheed-Martin - 1998Visit by Lockheed-Martin - 1998• Established collaborations with Office of Naval Established collaborations with Office of Naval

Research, Lockheed-Martin, and University of Research, Lockheed-Martin, and University of Oklahoma - 1999Oklahoma - 1999

• Added additional partners, NWS Radar Added additional partners, NWS Radar Operations Center, FAA, NOAA, Oklahoma Operations Center, FAA, NOAA, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Basic State Regents for Higher Education, Basic Commerce IndustriesCommerce Industries

Phased Array Radar SupportPhased Array Radar Support

FY2000 - 2003FY2000 - 2003• U.S. Navy ($10M), SPY-1 U.S. Navy ($10M), SPY-1

antenna ($10M)antenna ($10M)• NOAA/NWS - WSR-88D NOAA/NWS - WSR-88D

transmitter ($0.4M)transmitter ($0.4M)• NOAA/OAR ($1.0M, EP)NOAA/OAR ($1.0M, EP)• Lockheed Martin ($1.0M in Lockheed Martin ($1.0M in

kind, EP)kind, EP)• Oklahoma State Regents Oklahoma State Regents

($1.0M, EP)($1.0M, EP)• U. of Oklahoma ($0.5M, EP)U. of Oklahoma ($0.5M, EP)• FAA ($8.0M)FAA ($8.0M)• Navy/NOAA/FAA MOUNavy/NOAA/FAA MOU 2004 2005 2006 2007

NOAA $1M $1M $4M $3M?

FAA

(to NOAA) $.8M $.8M $0M

What is Phased Array?What is Phased Array?

• Phasing = TimingPhasing = Timing

• Analogous: Ears & Sound wavesAnalogous: Ears & Sound waves

• Array of many ElementsArray of many Elements

• 4-sided, no moving parts, scanned 4-sided, no moving parts, scanned Electronically vs. mechanically (WSR-Electronically vs. mechanically (WSR-88D)88D)

• Results: Faster Scans, more flexible Results: Faster Scans, more flexible scansscans

Wavefront(Plane of equal phase radiation)

Beam is steered by progressively shifting the phases of thesignals radiated by the individual radiators.

Beam is conventionally steered by mechanically deflectingthe antenna

One Beam Multi-Beam

Phased Array Radar (PAR)Phased Array Radar (PAR)

NWRT EquipmentNWRT Equipment

AN/SPY-1A Antenna

AN/SPY-1A PositionProgrammer (APP)

WSR-88D TransmitterEnvironmentalProcessor (EP)

Real-Time Controller (RTC)Receiver/Exciter Testbed

ControlCenter (TCC)

Pedestal &Antenna Pedestal Control (APC)

RadomeFacility

1st Level - NWRT

2nd Level – NWRT Inside Enclosure

Modified Transmitter (3.2 Modified Transmitter (3.2 GHz)GHz)

Passive ArrayMin PRI = 800 sec

Short Pulse = 1.57 sec

Long Pulse = 4.71 sec

Sensitivity = 5.89 db at 50 km

Wavelength = 9.375 cm

136 modules32 elements per module4,352 elements

Phased Array Antenna

Element

Module

Beam width (Center) = 1.5 degBeam width (+/- 45 deg) = 2.1 degAntenna Tilt = 10 degAntenna Height = 40 ft

Environmental Processor (EP)

• SkyComputers• Ultra SPARC – Host• 5 SKYbolt II modules each with 4 PowerPC G4 processors• CD, hard and removable hard drive• Ciprico RAID 648 Gbyte storage• Development System – 2 SKYbolt II modules

RAID

DevelopmentSystem

Operational System

RemovableHard Drive

Matrix PC replacing the Matrix PC replacing the Environmental Processor (EP)Environmental Processor (EP)• Matrix PCMatrix PC• Six Supermicro PCsSix Supermicro PCs

– Dual Intel Xeon 2.4GhzDual Intel Xeon 2.4Ghz– 2GB memory2GB memory– Linux OSLinux OS

• Connected to RTC via Connected to RTC via Systran SL100 PCI CardSystran SL100 PCI Card

• Myrnet Crossbar SwitchMyrnet Crossbar Switch– Direct PC to PC Direct PC to PC

communication at 2 Ghzcommunication at 2 Ghz• 3 TB Raid3 TB Raid• 24 Port Network Switch24 Port Network Switch• One Node currently used One Node currently used

to replace existing EPto replace existing EP

Multi-use Aircraft TrackingMulti-use Aircraft Tracking

• FAA and BCI FAA and BCI developmentdevelopment

• Uses Separate Uses Separate Processor for Data Processor for Data streamstream

• Runs simulateously Runs simulateously with Weather Data with Weather Data collectioncollection

2003/11/04 2123 UTC (Refl)2003/11/04 2123 UTC (Refl)

KTLX 0.5 deg NWRT 0.75 deg

2003/11/04 2123 UTC (Vel)2003/11/04 2123 UTC (Vel)

KTLX 0.5 deg NWRT 0.75 deg

NWRT STATUSNWRT STATUS• Data Quality Issues CorrectedData Quality Issues Corrected

– Bad VelocitiesBad Velocities•Digital receiver filtersDigital receiver filters•Clear ModeClear Mode

– Pulse TimingPulse Timing– Six Degree Phase errorSix Degree Phase error

• Engineering Testing Phase CompletedEngineering Testing Phase Completed• Fixed STIM download problemsFixed STIM download problems

Upgrades CompletedUpgrades Completed

• Backup Generators – Radar Facility Backup Generators – Radar Facility and TCCand TCC

• Continuous rotation 18 degrees per Continuous rotation 18 degrees per secondsecond– Volume scan (14 levels) less than 60 Volume scan (14 levels) less than 60

secondsseconds

• Improved display systemImproved display system

• Improved User InterfaceImproved User Interface

Current WorkCurrent Work

• Continue to learn operational capabilities Continue to learn operational capabilities (i.e. scan strategies, various processing (i.e. scan strategies, various processing modes, etc.)modes, etc.)

• Collect data for comparisons with WSR-Collect data for comparisons with WSR-88D and TDWR during storm season88D and TDWR during storm season

• Use for various Research ProjectsUse for various Research Projects– Transverse winds (NSSL/OU)Transverse winds (NSSL/OU)– Refractive Index (OU)Refractive Index (OU)– Spectral Signatures of Tornadoes (OU/NSSL)Spectral Signatures of Tornadoes (OU/NSSL)– Clutter Canceling (NSSL/OU)Clutter Canceling (NSSL/OU)– Scan Strategies – Beam Multiplexing (NSSL/OU)Scan Strategies – Beam Multiplexing (NSSL/OU)

Current WorkCurrent Work

• Add Remote Operations (completed, fine Add Remote Operations (completed, fine tuning)tuning)

• Replace EP (completed, along with I/Q Replace EP (completed, along with I/Q recording) recording)

• Integrate with WDSS-II algorithms and 3-D Integrate with WDSS-II algorithms and 3-D displaysdisplays

• Test Multi-use (FAA/BCI – aircraft tracking)Test Multi-use (FAA/BCI – aircraft tracking)• Testing beam multiplexingTesting beam multiplexing• Measure Antenna patternMeasure Antenna pattern• Emulate adaptive Volume scansEmulate adaptive Volume scans• Start design of dual-polarized sub-arrayStart design of dual-polarized sub-array

Beam MultiplexingBeam Multiplexing

Beam Multiplex

VCP 12Difference

May 29May 29thth Comparison ComparisonReflectivityReflectivity

May 29May 29thth Comparison ComparisonVelocityVelocity

May 29May 29thth Comparison ComparisonGriddedGridded

1. Diff Times/Accuracy

2. Different Radar Locations

3. Ground Clutter

4. 2nd Trip

5. Polarization

6. Resolutions 1km vs. 244m

7. Sensitivity

8. Calibration errors

9. Beam Widths

10. Elevation Angle

11. PRT (Dwells)

Research Agenda (1-2 Research Agenda (1-2 years)years)• Learn Operational capabilities (I.e. scan Learn Operational capabilities (I.e. scan

strategies, various processing modes, etc.)strategies, various processing modes, etc.)• Collect data for comparisons with WSR-88D and Collect data for comparisons with WSR-88D and

TDWR during storm seasonTDWR during storm season• Use for various Research ProjectsUse for various Research Projects• Add Remote Operations (completed, fine tuning)Add Remote Operations (completed, fine tuning)• Replace EP Replace EP • Integrate with WDSS-II algorithms and 3-D Integrate with WDSS-II algorithms and 3-D

displaysdisplays• Test Multi-use (FAA – aircraft tracking)Test Multi-use (FAA – aircraft tracking)• Implement beam multiplexingImplement beam multiplexing• Start design of dual-polarized sub-arrayStart design of dual-polarized sub-array

Future PlansFuture Plans

• Available as National Facility in Available as National Facility in December 2006December 2006

• Adaptive scanningAdaptive scanning• Continue to test Multi-use applicationsContinue to test Multi-use applications

– Wind profilingWind profiling– Aircraft trackingAircraft tracking– Chemical/Biological profilingChemical/Biological profiling– Initialization of ModelsInitialization of Models

ROADMAPROADMAP

2004

20072012

2015

2025

Dual Polarization

WSR-15PWA Locations

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov

VCP -12VCP -12

• Elevation AnglesElevation Angles– 0.50.5– 0.90.9– 1.31.3– 1.81.8– 2.42.4– 3.13.1– 4.04.0– 5.15.1– 6.46.4– 8.08.0– 10.010.0– 12.512.5– 15.615.6– 19.519.5

The lowest three angles use "Split Cut" (CS/CD), middle angles use Batch (B), and

higher angles use Contiguous Doppler (CDX) mode.