1. 449 MHz Modular Wind Profiler Development MAC update September 2012 William Brown Brad Lindseth, Charlie Martin, Jen Standridge, Tim Lim, Lou Verstraete, Steve Cohn, Terry Hock With help from: Jim Jordan, Dan Law, Warner Ecklund (NOAA) EOL MAC 27 Sept 2012

2. 449 MHz Modular Wind Profiler Development to extend our wind profiler capabilities Longer wavelength enables higher altitudes Fast wind measurements (spaced antenna) Modular to give more flexibility Combine modules to make radars of varying sizes Easy to deploy No clutter screen Light-weight modules Hexagonal Module

3. Modularity 3-panel system 2 kW amp Profiles through boundary layer 7-panel system 8kW or 16kW amp Profile to mid-troposphere

4. 3-panel PCAPS deployment Winter cold pool study, Salt Lake valley 915 MHz 449 MHz

5. 3-panel 449 MHz Comparison with 915 MHz 449 915 High 915 Low Winds percentage vs. Height Altitude coverage about 1 km greater 2 months Median abs diff ~ 1.5 m/s

6. 7-panel Latest developments Expansion to 7 panels So far using: 2 kW TX amp 3 channel data system

7. 915 cf 7-panel 449 915MHz high mode449MHz 7-panel 7-panel 449 typically seeing 1 – 2 km higher

8. Yesterday Vertical velocity & 5 minute winds Note strong updraft

9. Current Work Completing 7-panel system: 7-channel data system Dual 8kW amplifiers Upgraded front-end boxes Mounting frame Analyzing tests Limitations: Limited range resolution (~ 150m) Processing and algorithms need work Can see higher than 915s, but not low gates Clutter, RFI & artifact rejection

10. Next steps RIM Range IMaging Enables improvement in range resolution Small inter-pulse steps in wavelength Aiming to go from 150 m down to < 50 m Funds identified for RIM expert to visit next summer Improve processing Reduce lowest range gate Add diagnostics Mobile version (449 MISS) RASS (Radio Acoustic Sounding System)

11. Summary  Prototype systems working well  Completing seven antenna modules o One 7-panel profiler OR two 3-panel systems (Two BL or one mid-troposphere profiler) o Adding power (16kW) and data channels (3->7)  Next Steps o Adding RIM o RASS, diagnostics, Mobile, lower gates, processing  Three user proposals received already  Front-Porch, DEEPWAVE, PECAN  Test deployments : local and Metcrax  Promising technology, but some limitations  Longer term:  Ship operations  Full 19-module system