A Demonstrator for the Doppler Radar Cloud Profiler (DRCP)

Millimetre wave radar, preferrably with Doppler capability, is applied in atmospheric remote sensing since decades. The first systems were based on vacuum tube technology and used the pulsed Doppler operation mode. Due to the high manufacturing and operation costs, there was no reasonable path foreseen to routine operational application, e.g. in networks of national weather services, to date. In the mid-1990s the first millimetre-wave radar profilers for atmospheric research based on solid-state devices were developed. They used the FMCW Doppler operation mode. Due to their complex RF design these systems were not suitable for operational operation, either. Recent progress in the performance and availability of K
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-band solid state components encouraged S&AO Ltd to develop an RF design for a K
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-band FMCW Doppler Radar Cloud Profiler (DRCP) for future operational application. This RF design is presented here. A demonstrator for the DRCP has been realised during a Proof of Concept project. The DRCP demonstrator performance was assessed by inter-comparison with an established cloud radar. The result of this performance assessment is described, and eventually conclusions are presented.