Feasibility Test of an Airborne Pulse-Doppler Meteorological Radar

A vertically scanning, airborne, pulse-Doppler radar is described. Data processing methods to yield pseudodual-Doppler horizontal winds are presented. Results of an intercomparison with a ground-based dual-Doppler network are presented and discussed. These results indicate that the accuracy of the Doppler estimates are not seriously degraded by the aircraft's motion in a nonturbulent environment. Reasonable wind velocities were obtained in a stratiform precipitation (pre-warm-frontal) regime despite relatively long time periods for data gathering (∼20 min). Potential error sources are discussed, with the principal conclusion being that the uncertainty in the airborne Doppler mean velocity estimates are slightly larger than would be expected for a ground-based Doppler. However, the time period over which data are gathered is much longer than for a ground-based dual-Doppler network. Potential modifications to the antenna and data system to improve data quality are also discussed.