GPM Ground Validation Radar Workshop

A workshop was held on November 13-14, 2007 with representatives from GSFC, academia, and industry to discuss the science and operational requirements for a Ka/Ku-band radar for GPM ground validation. In the pre-launch era, such a radar will provide data for development of GPM precipitation retrieval algorithms. In the post-launch era, the radar will be used to validate GPM data products. In addition to discussing radar requirements, the workshop also explored several possible implementation options.

The purpose of the workshop was to identify the science justification for a mobile Ka/Ku-band radar (which may include an optional W-band). A secondary objective of the workshop was to identify the high-level functional and performance requirements of the radar and to validate these requirements with respect to science needs. The information generated during the workshop will be used by the Global Precipitation Mission Project in planning measurement acquisition strategy for a 2010 field campaign at the DOEÕs Southern Great Plains site in Oklahoma, and for subsequent field campaigns.

While the workshop was mainly directed toward development of requirements, it was noted that there is one Ka/Ku/W-band radar implementation example and one Ka/Ku-band system in development. Presentations on these systems were part of the workshop. A future trade study will determine whether these systems, or some other alternative, can meet the science requirements.

Meeting Agenda Mathew Schwaller/NASA GSFC [Meeting objectives, schedule for development & implementation, competing options in cost-constrained environment] + View presentation Walt Petersen/University of Alabama, Huntsville [Overview of science measurement objectives and context] + View presentation Robert Meneghini/NASA GSFC [DPR (and GMI) algorithm development needs] + View presentation V. Chandrasekar/Colorado State University [Potential radar design parameters and operations capabilities] + View presentation (coming soon) Paul Siqueira/University of Massachusetts, Amherst [AMFR implementation example] + View presentation (coming soon) James Carswell/Remote Sensing Solutions [SBIR solid state development example] + View presentation

Meeting Participants Manos Anagnostou/UConn Steve Bidwell/GSFC Jim Carswell/RSS V. Chandra/CSU John Gerlach/WFF Gerry Heymsfield/GSFC Arthur Hou/GSFC Pavlos Kollias/McGill/DOE Lihua Li/GSFC Bob Meneghini/GSFC Walt Petersen/UAH Paul Racette/GSFC Steve Rutledge/CSU Mathew Schwaller/GSFC Paul Siqueira/UMass Gail Skofronic-Jackson/GSFC

Documents

+ Draft Ka/Ku-band radar requirements