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Potential of Future Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) Ocean Surface Wind Observations for Determining Tropical Storm Vortex Intensity and StructureThe Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) is an innovative technology development, which offers the potential of new and unique remotely sensed observations of both extreme oceanic wind events and strong precipitation from either UAS or satellite platforms. It is based on the airborne Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR), which is a proven aircraft remote sensing technique for observing tropical cyclone ocean surface wind speeds and rain rates, including those of major hurricane intensity. The proposed HIRAD instrument advances beyond the current nadir viewing SFMR to an equivalent wide-swath SFMR imager using passive microwave synthetic thinned aperture radiometer technology. This sensor will operate over 4-7 GHz (C-band frequencies) where the required tropical cyclone remote sensing physics has been validated by both SFMR and WindSat radiometers. HIRAD incorporates a unique, technologically advanced array antenna and several other technologies successfully demonstrated by the NASA's Instrument Incubator Program. A brassboard version of the instrument is complete and has been successfully tested in an anechoic chamber, and development of the aircraft instrument is well underway. HIRAD will be a compact, lightweight, low-power instrument with no moving parts that will produce wide-swath imagery of ocean vector winds and rain during hurricane conditions when existing microwave sensors (radiometers or scatterometers) are hindered. Preliminary studies show that HIRAD will have a significant positive impact on analyses as either a new aircraft or satellite sensor.
Document ID
20090017840
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Atlas, Robert
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion United States)
Bailey, M. C.
(Science Applications International Corp. United States)
Black, Peter
(Science Applications International Corp. United States)
James, Mark
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Johnson, James
(University of Central Florida Orlando, FL, United States)
Jones, Linwood
(University of Central Florida Orlando, FL, United States)
Miller, Timothy
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Ruf, Christopher
(Michigan Univ. MI, United States)
Uhlhorn, Eric
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
December 11, 2008
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
MSFC-2206
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2008 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 11, 2008
End Date: December 19, 2008
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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