ARMOR Doppler Weather Radar - Usages

Usages

The following is information about the radar and its advanced systems:

• One of a kind technology transfer via real-time use of ARMOR in the broadcast meteorology domain.

• Real-time operational feed to NWS for nowcasting and training at NWS WFO Huntsville

• Supports basic thunderstorm, cloud physics, cloud electrification and precipitation research within the UAH/NASA Severe Thunderstorm Observations and Research Meteorological NETwork (STORM-NET)

• Source for Satellite precipitation mission ground truth and physical validation via precipitation microphysics retrieval and kinematic measurements (dual-Doppler)

• Vastly improved Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE) for surface hydrological and water cycle studies

• Operational meteorological decision support tool development and data assimilation (e.g. NASA-SPoRT)

• Detailed cloud kinematic, microphysical, electrification, and lightning studies using the NASA Northern Alabama Lightning Mapping Array (NASA-MSFC/NSSTC Thunderstorm and Lightning Group), ARMOR polarimetric variables and real-time dual-Doppler capability.

• Potential hydrological data input for assimilation into local distributed runoff models, regional flood plain studies/planning

• Near surface wind retrievals for assimilation into pollutant dispersion models

• Boundary layer studies including identification of biological flyers