RaXPol (Rapid X-band Polarimetric Radar)
RaXPol scanning a severe thunderstorm in Oklahoma
Country of originUSA
Introduced2011
No. built1
TypeWeather radar
Frequency9.73 GHz (X Band)
PRFAdjustable 1,000 to 8,000 Hz
Beamwidth1.0°
PulsewidthAdjustable 0.1 to 40 μs
RPMup to 30 rpm
Diameter2.4 m (7.9 ft)
Azimuth360°
Power20 kW

The Rapid X-band Polarimetric Radar, commonly abbreviated as RaXPol,[1] is a mobile research radar designed and operated by the University of Oklahoma, led by Howard Bluestein. RaXPol often collaborates with adjacent mobile radar projects, such as Doppler on Wheels and SMART-R.[2] Unlike its counterparts, RaXPol typically places emphasis on temporal resolution, and as such is capable of surveilling the entire local atmosphere in three dimensions in as little as 20 seconds, or a single level in less than 3 seconds.[3]

History and deployment

Ever since meteorological observations on radar were first made widespread, the need for high-temporal resolution and comprehensive volumetric imagery of all three dimensions of weather phenomena has been a very high priority, due in large part to the fact that hazardous weather often happens in the span of seconds, and often in the lowest 1 kilometer of the atmosphere.[4] In pursuit of better resolution in time, the NEXRAD network deploys several time-saving measures to accelerate data rates in these three dimensions, such as M.R.L.E. and MESO-SAILS, which can be bringing scan time down from 5–7 minutes to 2–3 minutes. In 2010, the University of Oklahoma's Advanced Radar Research Center began development of RaXPol, with a focus on rapid deployment and analysis of the atmosphere.[1] By early 2011, RaXPol was being deployed in field campaigns across Tornado Alley, and has taken part in numerous NSF funded research projects and organizations, such as PECAN,[5] TORUS,[6] and IMPACTS.[7]

Findings

RaXPol has documented numerous hazardous weather events throughout its deployment history, among them being several dozen particularly intense tornadoes. On May 24, 2011, RaXPol observed an extremely violent EF-5 tornado near El Reno, Oklahoma at very high temporal resolution, measuring doppler velocities in excess of 250 mph.[8] Two years later, RaXPol observed the widest tornado in recorded history (2.6 miles wide), also near the town of El Reno, retrieving among the highest doppler velocities ever recorded at 295 mph. Based on this data, the tornado was initially rated EF-5, but was later downgraded to an EF-3 due to the lack of supporting damage on the ground.[9] Data gathered from RaXPol also indicates that the formation of tornadoes may not be a top-down process as was once thought.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "A Mobile Rapid-Scanning X-band Polarimetric (RaXPol) Doppler Radar System in: Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology Volume 30 Issue 7 (2013)". journals.ametsoc.org. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  2. ^ "PECAN Fixed & Mobile Radars | Earth Observing Laboratory". eol.ucar.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  3. ^ "Advanced Radar Research Center". arrc.ou.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  4. ^ "Faster Radar Data Means More Advanced Warning for Hazardous Weather". weather.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  5. ^ "PECAN | Earth Observing Laboratory". eol.ucar.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  6. ^ "NSSL Projects:TORUS: Targeted Observations by Radars and UAS of Supercells". nssl.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  7. ^ "OU researchers team up with NASA to study January nor'easter | StateImpact Oklahoma". stateimpact.npr.org. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  8. ^ "Observations of Supercell Tornado Evolution Using a Mobile, Rapid-Scan, X-Band Radar". shareok.org. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  9. ^ "El Reno, Oklahoma tornado downgraded to EF-3 | Earth". EarthSky. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  10. ^ "Abstract: Confirming Bottom-up Tornadogenesis in the 31 May 2013 El Reno Tornado (29th Conference on Severe Local Storms)". ams.confex.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
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