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The Cloud Radar SystemImprovement in our understanding of the radiative impact of clouds on the climate system requires a comprehensive view of clouds including their physical dimensions, dynamical generation processes, and detailed microphysical properties. To this end, millimeter vave radar is a powerful tool by which clouds can be remotely sensed. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has developed the Cloud Radar System (CRS). CRS is a highly sensitive 94 GHz (W-band) pulsed-Doppler polarimetric radar that is designed to fly on board the NASA high-altitude ER-2 aircraft. The instrument is currently the only millimeter wave radar capable of cloud and precipitation measurements from above most all clouds. Because it operates from high-altitude, the CRS provides a unique measurement perspective for cirrus cloud studies. The CRS emulates a satellite view of clouds and precipitation systems thus providing valuable measurements for the implementation and algorithm validation for the upcoming NASA CloudSat mission that is designed to measure ice cloud distributions on the global scale using a spaceborne 94 GHz radar. This paper describes the CRS instrument and preliminary data from the recent Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers - Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE). The radar design is discussed. Characteristics of the radar are given. A block diagram illustrating functional components of the radar is shown. The performance of the CRS during the CRYSTAL-FACE campaign is discussed.
Document ID
20030106262
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Racette, Paul
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Heymsfield, Gerald
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Li, Lihua
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Tian, Lin
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Zenker, Ed
(Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Meeting Information
Meeting: 31st Conference on Radar Meteorology
Location: Seattle, WA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 6, 2003
End Date: August 12, 2003
Sponsors: American Meteorological Society
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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