Development of an Off-The-Grid X-band radar for weather applications

The Student Led Test Bed (STB) is part of the NSF Engineering Research Center CASA and is currently focused in developing low-cost and low infrastructure radar networks to fill lower atmosphere gaps not covered by current technology. The first radar node, which is part of a small region radar network, will significantly improve the time and spatial resolution of the radar data measured for the lower atmosphere. This paper describes the development of an Off-The-Grid (OTG) X-band radar node that requires minimum infrastructure for its deployment and can operate using solar energy and wireless communication links. The OTG radar was developed for meteorological applications modifying a commercially available marine radar. Hardware modifications for meteorological purposes were performed as well as the design and implementation of a photovoltaic system to power the radar using solar energy. The system was moved to the Colorado State University (CSU)-CHILL National Weather Radar facility for a cross-calibration and system evaluation. Satisfactory results were obtained where it was demonstrated that the OTG radar can provide precipitation measurements with improved spatial and temporal resolution, both necessary to have better lower troposphere measurements. This OTG node is the first prototype of a low infrastructure X-band weather radar network to aid forecasts in the western region of Puerto Rico.