Under the Hood - How Signal Processing in the WSR-88D Provides the Best Quality Data

This course introduces the signal processing techniques used to extract weather estimates (base data) in the US NEXRAD program’s WSR-88D. Participants will learn what functions this Polarimetric Doppler weather radar performs, how it performs those functions, and how engineering and science teams evaluate the quality of the data. The course will explore important functional characteristics of polarimetric Doppler weather radar; and, how key parameters and data quality metrics support forecasting, warning, and climate science needs. Participants will learn about aspects of practical implementation of the requirements and supporting functions, including verification methods. The course includes notes on the historical development of the key requirements and signal processing development associated with the US NEXRAD program with emphasis on research-to-operations (R2O).

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Course Description:

In this full-day course, participants will gain an understanding of how a basic meteorological radar functions and how the signals it generates interact with the scattering medium and microphysical processes in the atmosphere. They will learn the spectrum of measurements that modern radars are designed to make and the challenges attendant with producing results with suitable quality. Participants will learn of the progress made over the past several decades that led to successful program upgrades on the NEXRAD network. The course will prepare participants to embrace changes coming with the accelerating pace of technology development. They will be in a position to make significant impacts on future systems.

The goal is to educate scientists and engineers in the research, development, and commercial weather radar industry on the signal processing methods hosted within the US WSR-88D radar. The course includes practical discussions of how new science/signal processing techniques compete with functional requirements. Students will learn details of the NEXRAD data quality program.

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Instructors:

Richard L. Ice

Major USAF (Retired)

David A. Warde

Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations/ University of Oklahoma, (CIWRO) and NOAA/OAR National Severe Storms Laboratory