In the spring of 2006, a proposal for two Ka-band Doppler radar trucks was award to Texas Tech University. The first Ka-band Doppler radar truck was completed in June of 2009 and the second was finished in the spring of 2010. These trucks were designed to collect high resolution data in multiple atmospheric phenomena to benefit both the atmospheric science and wind engineering research communities.

Both systems have been deployed in numerous field campaigns since their inception:

• Spring 2009 –  Year 1: NSF tornado project VORTEX2
• November 2009 – TTUHAL Project: Tropical Storm Ida deployment
• Spring 2010 –  Year 2: NSF tornado project VORTEX2
• Spring/Fall 2011 – NSF thunderstorm project SCOUT
• Spring 2011 – Convective initiation pilot study
• August 2011 – TTUHAL Project: Hurricane Irene deployment
• Spring 2012 – Convective initiation pilot study
• Spring 2012 – VORTEX2 residual objectives
• Spring 2013 – VORTEX2 residual objectives
• Spring 2013 – SCOUT residual objectives
• Spring 2013 – KTaL pilot study
• Spring/Summer 2014 – Air Force Project: convective initiation study

Platform Characteristics

• Transmit Frequency: 34.86 / 35.06 GHz (for TTUKa-1 / TTUKa-2)
• Transmit Power: 200 watts peak, 100 watts average
• Transmitter Type: TWTA, 50% duty cycle
• Antenna Type: Cassegrain feed, epoxy dielectric
• Antenna Gain: 56 dB
• Antenna 3dB BW: 0.33 degrees
• Polarization: Linear, horizontal
• Waveguide: WR-28, pressurized
• PRF: Variable, up to 20KHz
• Pulse Width: 4 widths, variable from 30 nsec to 80 usec
• Gate Spacing: 15 meters
• Receiver: Dual block up/down converter
• IF Frequency: 60 MHz
• Pedestal System: Orbit AL-4016, 6 rpm max axis rotation
• DSP: Sigmet RVP-900 with Tx IF modulator drive
• Modulation: Pulse, Linear FM Chirp, Non-linear FM Chirp
• Vehicle:
• Plaform Stabilization: Computer assisted hydraulic leveling system

 

Image courtesy of Alex Schueth