Instrument: Dual-frequency Dual-polarized Doppler Radar (D3R)

Description
The Dual-frequency Dual-polarized Doppler Radar (D3R) is a mobile Ku-/Ka-band fully polarimetric Doppler radar, specifically developed for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission Ground Validation (GV) program. D3R was designed to provide pre- and post-launch precipitation observations using frequencies similar to those of the Ku-/Ka-band Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) onboard the GPM Core satellite.* These measurements enabled the development of algorithms and retrieval methods prior to the launch of the GPM Core satellite and provide validation data for post-launch GPM DPR observations.
A weather radar is an active remote sensing instrument that transmits electromagnetic (EM) radiation toward a volume of atmospheric targets to gather information such as their amount, size, and type. When the radiation encounters the targets, some of the energy is absorbed and scattered while some is reflected back, or backscattered, toward the radar’s receiver where it is measured. D3R is a dual-frequency radar that transmits radiation at 13.91 GHz (Ku-band) and 35.56 GHz (Ka-band). 
Ku-band: Generally detects moderate to heavy rainfall
Ka-band: Primarily used to detect light rain and snow, also more easily attenuated
D3R uses a solid state transmitter along with two parabolic antennas for signal transmission. The larger antenna (72 in. diameter) transmits the Ku-band radiation while the smaller antenna (28 in. diameter) transmits the Ka-band radiation. Each antenna is covered by a radome to protect it from the surrounding weather conditions. The Ku-/Ka-band measurement combination gives D3R a higher sensitivity to small raindrops, drizzle, and snow particles; aiding in drop size distribution (DSD) calculations. D3R is fully polarimetric, meaning it can transmit and receive EM-radiation with a horizontal or vertical polarization. Dual-polarized measurements give insight into the microphysical characteristics of precipitation, allowing for identification of the precipitation type and improved precipitation estimates. 
D3R is also a Doppler radar and therefore can resolve wind velocities within precipitation.The speed and direction of movement by precipitation particles will affect the backscattered signal, revealing information about the air motions relative to the radar. These Doppler measurements provide insight into the dynamics within precipitation systems. D3R was designed to broaden short-frequency precipitation observations, provide further microphysical precipitation measurements, and give insight into satellite retrieval processes and measurement errors. D3R has served in various GPM GV field campaigns (Figure 1), providing high-resolution ground based precipitation measurements. 
 
 
Figure 1: D3R during the GPM GV IPHEx Field Campaign
(Image source: NASA PMM)

 

Measurements

Measures the backscatter of atmospheric targets. Provides equivalent reflectivity factor, Doppler velocity, differential reflectivity, differential propagation phase, copolar correlation coefficient, and linear depolarization ratio products. The DSD can also be derived from these measurements. A challenge with D3R was the need for new parameter retrieval methods for highly attenuating frequencies.The Ka- and Ku-bands used by D3R are highly affected by attenuation (reduction in intensity) when their signals come into contact with various particles in the atmosphere. To account for this, radar calculation algorithms had to be adjusted.

Platform image: Ground based
Applications
Precipitation Characterization and Process Studies
Precipitation Characterization and Process Studies
Satellite validation
Satellite validation
Precipitation microphysics
Precipitation microphysics
Climate
Climate
Global water cycle
Global water cycle
MAXIMUM RANGE PEAK POWER FREQUENCY BEAM WIDTH MINIMUM DETECTABLE SIGNAL RANGE RESOLUTION ANTENNA REFLECTOR DIAMETER
30 km
160 W (Ku),
40 W (Ka) per H and V channel
Ku: 13.91GHz ± 25 MHz
Ka: 35.56GHz ± 25 MHz
~1 degree -10 dBZ at 15 km for a single pulse at 150 m range resolution 150 m (nominal)
72 inches (Ku)
28 inches (Ka)

 

Relevant Publications
Chandrasekar, V., Schwaller, M., Vega, M., Carswell, J., Mishra, K. V., Meneghini, R., & Nguyen, C. (2010). Scientific and Engineering Overview of the NASA Dual-Frequency Dual-Polarized Doppler Radar (D3R) System for GPM Ground Validation. Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. IEEE Xplore Digital Library.
 
PMM. (n.d.) Dual-frequency Dual-polarized Doppler Radar (D3R).
 
Vega, M., Carswell, J., Chandrasekar, V., Schwaller, M., & Mishra, K. V. (2010). Realization of the NASA Dual-Frequency Dual-Polarized Doppler Radar (D3R). Proceedings of the 2010 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. IEEE Xplore Digital Library.
 
Vega, M. A., Chandrasekar, V., Carswell, J., Beauchamp, R. M., Schwaller, M. R., & Nguyen, C. (2014). Salient features of the dual-frequency, dual-polarized, Doppler radar for remote sensing of precipitation. AGU Radio Science, 49, 1087- 1105.

 

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