An update on multi-channel digital receiver development for the phased array radar at the National Weather Radar Testbed

This paper describes the beginning states of a new project that will digitize radar signals coming from eight channels on the phased array antenna at the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) in Norman, Oklahoma. At the current time, a single-channel digital receiver is operational to mimic the current capability. The multi-channel digital data will foster a new generation of adaptive/fast scanning techniques and space-antenna/interferometry measurements, which will then be used for improved weather forecasting via data assimilation. Differing from the conventional rotating radar, the phased array is suited for multi-mission capabilities so that a variety of targets may be observed simultaneously with a high degree of fidelity. The development of a multi-channel receiver will be the catalyst and an enabling tool for research in this area for the next decade. This collaborative project, which involves scientists and engineers from the University of Oklahoma and the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, is the result of a recently funded a grant from the National Science Foundation (as described in the Acknowledgement section of this paper).