FAA Weather Surveillance Requirements in the Context on NEXRAD.
Abstract
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Weather Service and Air Force Weather Service are currently engaged in a program to develop a next generation of weather radars (NEXRAD) capable of satisfying (to the greatest extent possible) the common weather information needs of these agencies. This report identifies the unique FAA weather radar surveillance requirements and examines the technical issues that arise in attempting to meet these requirements with the NEXRAD strawman radar sensors and siting. Current air traffic control (ATC) weather data usage and statistics of aviation weather hazards and system efficiency are used to prioritize products needed for ATC. The strawman NEXRAD capability is then reviewed in the context of the identified weather products and factors such as: (1) effects of front end noise and weather return statistics, (2) resolution and low altitude coverage constraints, (3) the clutter environment associated with various siting options, and (4) data quality required for real time automated display of hazardous weather regions to ATC controllers. It is concluded that significant problems will arise in attempting to simultaneously provide terminal and en route weather surveillance by a single radar as envisioned in the NEXRAD strawman. An analytical/experimental research and development program is described to resolve the identified technical uncertainties in the NEXRAD strawman design for FAA applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 19, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA123876
Entities
People
- Bruce G. Laird
- James E Evans
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology