Evaluation of a 924-MHz Wind Profiling Radar

Abstract : A 924-MHz wind-profiling Doppler radar is a candidate for incorporation into a Mobile Profiler System (MPS) being developed at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM. The MPS must acquire wind data that are comparable (within 2 m/s in speed and within 10 deg in direction) to rawinsonde data in generating an upper-air meteorological message for the field artillery. To determine whether the 924-MHz system could meet this requirement, a measurement program was conducted at the Atmospheric Profiler Research Facility (APRF) at WSMR from 24 March to 26 August 1992. Selected wind data from the profiler were compared with rawinsonde data in the range from 600 m above ground level (AGL) to 2538 m AGL. For comparison of winds in die first 600 m AGL, an Enterprise WF- 100 Wind-Finding Radar system was used. In general, the wind data from the 924- MHz profiler system met the criterion. The wind data from the 924-MHz profile were also compared to wind data from anemometers mounted on a fixed tower, a sodar, and a 404-MHz wind-profiling Doppler radar.