WMOD00282 ‎(2)‎

• Project Name: Project Skywater
• Title: 1984-85 CRADP Data Inventory - Grand Mesa
• Date: 6/1/1985
• County: Mesa
• State: CO
• Weather Modification - Doc Type: Report

Section 2. - RADAR

The Utah State Universi ty Ka-band radar was llsed for data collection from
November 17, 1984 through April 30, 1985.

The radar was co-located with the USU Microwave Radiometer at Island Lake
on the Grand Mesa. Coordinates were 39002115" N., l0800QI17"W. and about
3,172 m (10,400 ft.) altitude ms.l.

The major characteristics of thE~ radar are outlined in table 2-1. The
antenna was positioned in a vertically pointing orientation. The data was
recorded on facsimile paper whenever the radar was set to transmit. A
16-mm time-exposure, time-lapse camera photographed an oscilloscope that
functioned as an A.-scope. Photographs were once every 5 mi nutes con-
tinuously, 24 hours per day, whE~ther the radar was operating or not. The
output product is a vertical profile of reflectivity against time.

Dates of useful photography (backup purposes only) are December 5, 1984 to
January 9, 1985, and January 16, 1985 to April 5, 1985.

Dates of radar data collection on facsimile paper are listed in table 2-2.

These data will be reduced to provide computer files containing the
following information for each hour with echoes present:

1. Average precipitation tops for the hour, and a coded representation
of the precipitation type (stratiform, convective, etc.)

2. Maximum precipitation top observed within the hour and a coded repre-
sentation of the precipitation type (stratiform, convective, etc.)

These data will be available on magnetic tape approximately June 15, 1985.

2-1