ARMOR (Advanced Radar for Meteorological and Operational Research) Doppler weather radar is a C-Band, Dual-Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radar, located at the Huntsville International Airport in Huntsville, Alabama. The radar is a collaborative effort between WHNT-TV and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Through the GRLevelX suite, ARMOR is available to private citizens and Meteorologists, through .gis implementation.
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History
This radar was originally a National Weather Service (NWS) local warning radar (WSR-74C) installed in 1977. It was refurbished and upgraded to Pulse-Doppler capabilities in 1991. When the NEXRAD network replaced previous NWS radars, it was donated to the UAH Department of Atmospheric Science in 2002 and upgraded to dual-polarimetry using the SIGMET Antenna Mounted Receiver in the Fall 2004.
Then Baron Radar division of Baron Services, Inc., Huntsville, AL, In, upgraded the transmitter in 2005 to a 350 kW solid state transmitter. In the Fall of 2006, a high performance Seavey dual-polarization antenna and Orbit pedestal were purchased for ARMOR by the same company and made fully functional by the end of October.
ARMOR is the first dual polarimetric radar used in broadcast television news, and one of the first systems of its type open for educational use to a public university, The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Baron has, to date, installed all broadcast dual-polarization radars in the world. As of late 2016, ARMOR is undergoing upgrades and is scheduled to be back in operations in early 2017. Upgrades include a new radome, dish, signal processor, waveguides, and receiver, Per University of Alabama in Huntsvilles Atmospheric Research group.
Description
ARMOR is a C-Band (5625 MHz) radar with a 1 degree resolution in azimuth, that sits 206 meters Above Sea Level. The pulse length can vary from 0.4 to 2.5 microseconds and its peak power is 350 kW. ARMOR's antenna is 3.7m, or 12 feet, in diameter, and it's typical PRF ranges from 250 - 2000 Hz. At its maximum, it's rotation rate is 36 Degrees/second. It transmits and receives Vertical and Horizontal polarized signals. ARMOR is capable of area-specific sector scans, and unlike the NEXRAD Network, can be manually operated.
Usages
The following is information about the radar and its advanced systems:
Users
In a unique partnership, this research radar is used by meteorologists at WHNT-TV for forecasting and on air severe weather coverage. ARMOR was the first dual polarimetric capable radar installed by a television station. The data received from the radar is continuously archived at the National Space Science and Technology Center at UAH for full volumetric and surveillance scans.
ARMOR also deploys a live feed to the Huntsville National Weather Service Office making it one of the first NWS offices to gain first hand experience with dual-pole radar. Currently, as of 2017, the entirety of the National NEXRAD network operates with dual-polarimetric capabilities.