Abstract: Colorado State University C-band Hydrometeorological
Instrument for Volumetric Observation (CSU CHIVO) radar is a
dual-polarization capable weather radar at the radar and
communications lab at Colorado State University. CHIVO radar is easy
to be transported and cost-effective compared to conventional S-band
radars, which are large and costly. For this reason, CHIVO radar can
be disassembled, shipped, and re-assembled easily to be deployed to
observe weather phenomena at different locations in the world.
During the Remote Sensing of Electrification, Lightning, and
Mesoscale/Microscale Process with Adaptive Ground Observations
(RELAMPAGO) field campaign, CHIVO radar was deployed to Córdoba &
Mendoza provinces in Argentina and operated during two observing
periods: one from November 10, 2018, to December 22, 2018, and another
from December 27, 2018, to January 31, 2019.
Although a C-band radar is more cost-effective and easier to be
deployed compared to an S-band radar, its high sensitivity requires
software-based calibration techniques to ensure high data quality. To
address the challenges associated with a C-band radar, this thesis
presents 3 aspects of radar calibrations: azimuth, which indicates the
horizontal position of targets, reflectivity (Z), which indicates the
returned power at horizontal polarization, and differential
reflectivity (?!"), which indicates the ratio of the horizontal to
vertical polarizations of the Z. The calibration techniques presented
in this thesis utilizes solar rays, ground targets, and meteorological
targets, and radar calibration theories are applied appropriately to
analyze and correct the radar data sets. The goal of the radar
calibrations was to improve the data quality to provide researchers
with more accurate data sets so that weather phenomena under different
geological and climatic conditions can be extensively studied and
understood.

Adviser: Dr. V Chandrasekar
Co-Adviser: N/A
Non-ECE Member: Dr. Cheney, Margaret
Member 3: Dr. Ray, Indrakshi
Addional Members: N/A

Publications:
In my M.S. final, I will present 4 topics on
weather radar calibration techniques: 1) Azimuth Correction, 2) ZDR
Bias Correction, 3) Relative Calibration Adjustment (RCA), and 4)
Self-Consistency Principle. My thesis presents the background,
algorithm descriptions, and results on how the data quality was
improved for Colorado State University C-band Hydrometeorological
Instrument for Volumetric Observation (CSU CHIVO) radar during the
Remote Sensing of Electrification, Lightning, and Mesoscale/Microscale
Process with Adaptive Ground Observations (RELAMPAGO) campaign, during which CHIVO radar was operated between November 10, 2018, and January
31, 2019, including the extended observational period.

Program of Study:
ECE411
ECE504
ECE512
ECE521
ECE561
ECE580B4
ECE699
GRAD544