What Is Doppler Weather Radar?
About Doppler Weather Radar:
The acronym RADAR stands for radio, detection, and ranging. A transmitter, receiver, antenna, power supply system, signal processing, and powerful computing equipment make up its fundamental parts. It functions on the basis of electromagnetic waves that the transmitter emits. The same wave returns to the receiver after striking an object or dense medium. Based on the electromagnetic wave's speed, the distance up to the object, and the travel time there and back are calculated.
Radars come in at least 10 different varieties. The Defense Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) in Joshimath uses a ground penetrating radar to study the Earth's crust up to a depth of nine meters. The InSAR (Inferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) that makes high-density measurements over broad regions by employing radar signals from Earth-orbiting satellites and measures changes in land-surface is also being used in Joshimath and other places of Uttarakhand.
A Doppler Radar: What Is It?
A Doppler Radar is a specialized radar that generates velocity information about distant objects using the Doppler Effect. The observer notices a shift in frequency when the source and the signal are moving relative to one another. It's known as the Doppler Effect. The frequency rises as they go closer, and vice versa.
The Doppler theory underlies the operation of a Doppler weather radar (DWR). It utilizes a parabolic dish antenna with a foam sandwich spherical radome to increase precision in long-range weather forecasting and surveillance. The DWR has the tools necessary to pinpoint the center of a storm, the path of a tornado or gust front, and the intensity and velocity of the wind.
What Distinguishes DWRS From Other Radars? How Much Does It Cost To Operate, Maintain, And Run?
A DWR, in contrast to others, is capable of detecting, among other things, air motion, wind, wind speed, rain, temperature, thunderstorms, hail, squalls, lightning, cyclones, cloud motions, volumetric analysis of cloud, and reflectivity index. According to Sanjay Srivastava, the chairman of the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council and a retired air defense veteran with a primary focus in radar, satellite, and remote sensing, each unit costs about 10 to 20 crore rupees. Depending on the model, operation and maintenance expenses range from $20 to $40 lakh annually.
Are There Enough of Them In India? Do We Require More?
As of January 15, 2023, there are 37 DWRs throughout the nation. They are primarily found in the plains. Nonetheless, more radars are needed for coastal and mountainous areas, and these are being purchased. India is anticipated to have 25 more DWRs by 2024–2025, bringing the total to 62 radars. This would increase forecast accuracy.
How Has The Weather Forecast Been Enhanced By DWRS?
The following are the primary benefits of DWRs:
• Provide the most accurate weather parameter detection, including dynamic weather events. turbulence, cyclones, thunderstorms, or lightning alone do volumetric analysis of clouds that aid in quantifying rain forecasts, cyclonic intensity, and precipitation, and accurately identify commonplace or expected phenomena in real-time.
• Their most effective and well-known application is in cyclone forecasting. A cyclone is tracked by the DWRs as soon as it is 200 km from the coast. This enables forecasts that are incredibly precise and practically error-free. DWRs are also very helpful for long-term lightning forecasts that can last up to three to five days, or even 24 hours.
Doppler Weather Radars Are Used Worldwide:
• One of the most often used radars is the DWR. They are so effective that the US National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) uses 148 of them. The Indian Doppler Radar (INDRA) has been used by the Indian Army and Air Force to find airplanes and other objects in the air.