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Graduate Exam Abstract


Miguel Galvez

M.S. Final
October 12, 2012, 2:00 pm
Engineering B2
The Development and Validation of an X-band Dual Polarization Doppler Weather Radar Test Node for a Tropical Network

Abstract: An automated network of three X-band dual polarization Doppler weather radars is in process of being deployed and operational on the western coast of Puerto Rico. Colorado State University and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez have collaborated to install the first polarimetric weather radar network in a tropical environment, known as TropiNet, to observe the lowest 2 km of the troposphere where the National Weather Service NEXRAD radar in Cayey, PR (TJUA) has obstructed views of the west coast, below 1.5 km due to terrain blockage and the Earth curvature problem. The CSU-X25P radar test node was developed, validated, and deployed to Mayaguez, PR in early 2011 to make first observations of this tropical region, and served as a pilot project to verify the infrastructure of the TropiNet network.
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This research describes the CSU-X25P radar test node, presenting the radar system specifications and an overview of the data acquisition and signal processing sub-systems, and the antenna positioner and control sub-system. The development and validation process included integration, sub-system calibration and test, and a final evaluation by conducting end-to-end calibration of the radar system. Validation of the calculated data moments, include Doppler velocity, reflectivity, differential reflectivity, differential propagation phase, and specific differential phase. The validation was accomplished by comparative analysis of data from coordinated scans between CSU-X25P and the well-established CSU-CHILL S-band polarimetric Doppler weather radar, in Greeley, CO.
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Upon validation of the radar test node, CSU-X25P was disassembled, packaged, and shipped from Colorado to Puerto Rico to be fully deployed for operation in a tropical seaside environment. This research presents select observations of severe weather events, such as tropical storms and hurricanes, which attest to the robustness of the radar test node, and the TropiNet network infrastructure.


Adviser: Dr. Chandra
Co-Adviser: N/A
Non-ECE Member: Dr. Paul Mielke, Statistics
Member 3: Dr. V. N. Bringi, Elec. & Computer Engineering
Addional Members: N/A

Publications:
Miguel B. Galvez, Jose G. Colom, V. Chandrasekaran, Francesc Junyent, Sandra Cruz-Pol, and Rafael Rodriguez, "Salient Features of Radar Nodes in the Puerto Rico Tropical Weather Testbed," in Proc. IGARSS, IEEE, 2009.
Miguel B. Galvez, Jose G. Colom, V. Chandrasekar, Francesc Junyent, Sandra Cruz-Pol, Rafael A. Rodriguez Solis, and Ki-Ryong Kwon, "First Observations of an X-band Dual Polarization Doppler Weather Radar on the Western Coast of Puerto Rico," in Proc. IGARSS, IEEE, 2011.


Program of Study:
EE 423
ECE 512
ECE 521
ECE 641
ECE 642
ECE 699
STAT 511
STAT 523