NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Surface Wind Vector and Rain Rate Observation Capability of Future Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD)The Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) is the next-generation Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR), and it will offer the capability of simultaneous wide-swath observations of both extreme ocean surface wind vector and strong precipitation from either aircraft (including UAS) or satellite platforms. HIRAD will be a compact, lightweight, low-power instrument with no moving parts that will produce valid wind observations under hurricane conditions when existing microwave sensors (radiometers or scatterometers) are hindered by precipitation. The SFMR i s a proven aircraft remote sensing system for simultaneously observing extreme 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. The first version of the instrument will be a single polarization system for wind speed and rain rate, with a dual-polarization system to follow for wind vector capability. 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 NASA s Instrument Incubator Program. A brassboard (laboratory) version of the instrument has been completed and successfully tested in a test chamber. Development of the aircraft instrument is underway, with flight testing planned for the fall of 2009. Preliminary Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) show that HIRAD will have a significant positive impact on surface wind analyses as either a new aircraft or satellite sensor. New off-nadir data collected in 2008 by SFMR that affirms the ability of this measurement technique to obtain wind speed data at non-zero incidence angle will be presented, as well as data from the brassboard instrument chamber tests.
Document ID
20090025884
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Miller, Timothy
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Atlas, Robert
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion United States)
Bailey, M. C.
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion United States)
Black, Peter
(Science Applications International Corp. United States)
El-Nimri, Salem
(University of Central Florida Orlando, FL, United States)
Hood, Robbie
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion 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)
Ruf, Christopher
(Michigan Univ. MI, United States)
Uhlhorn, Eric
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administraion United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
March 2, 2009
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
M09-0341
Meeting Information
Meeting: HIRAD OSSE: Interdepartmental Hurrican Conference 2009/The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research
Location: Saint Petersburg, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: March 2, 2009
End Date: March 5, 2009
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available