Triple-frequency radar for cloud and precipitation microphysics research

The University of Massachusetts (UMass), Colorado State University (CSU) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) are collaborating to develop an advanced multifrequency radar (MFR) system for studying clouds and precipitation, which should become operational in 2004. This highly portable radar consists of three polarimetric Doppler subsystems operating at Ku-band (13.4 GHz), Ka-band (35.6 GHz) and W-band (95 GHz), a programmable scanning pedestal, and a unique single aperture antenna that generates colocated matched beams at each frequency. This combination of frequencies allows measurement of a wide range of atmospheric targets including weakly reflecting clouds and precipitation.