Login
Login

OU-PRIME

{{update|date=December 2016}}Image:OUPRIME2.png

Image:OUPRIME3.png

Image:OUPRIME1.png

Image:commissioning.png

Image:ouprime sign.jpg

OU-PRIME (Polarimetric Radar for Innovations in Meteorology and Engineering) was an advanced Doppler weather radar. It was completed in January 2009 after a ten-month construction period and commissioned on April 4, 2009.{{Cite news|url=http://arrc.ou.edu/news/Radar_Commissioning.pdf|title=THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA TO HOLD COMMISSIONING CEREMONY FOR NEWEST RADAR|author=Advanced Radar Research Center|author-link=Advanced Radar Research Center|publisher=University of Oklahoma |date=April 3, 2009|access-date=2009-04-15}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{Cite news|url=http://oudaily.com/news/2009/jan/21/hi-def-radar-comes-south-campus/|title=Hi-def radar comes to South Campus|author=Clark Foy|journal=The Oklahoma Daily|date=January 2009|access-date=2009-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523231530/http://oudaily.com/news/2009/jan/21/hi-def-radar-comes-south-campus/|archive-date=2009-05-23|url-status=dead}} It was operated by the Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC) at the University of Oklahoma (OU). The radar was manufactured by Enterprise Electronics Corporation to provide OU students and faculty a platform for research and education in the field of radar meteorology. This C-band polarimetric radar has some of the highest resolution data of any C-band weather radar in the United States.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsok.com/ou-prime-captures-information-from-february-tornado/article/3350356|title=OU-PRIME captures information from February tornado|author=Bryan Painter|journal=The Oklahoman Direct|date=March 7, 2009|access-date=2009-04-15|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180841/http://www.newsok.com/ou-prime-captures-information-from-february-tornado/article/3350356|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://arrc.ou.edu/ouprime/OUPRIME_UserFlyer.pdf|title=OU-PRIME|author=Advanced Radar Research Center|author-link=Advanced Radar Research Center|publisher=University of Oklahoma |access-date=2009-04-15}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

OU-PRIME was struck by lightning on 19 March 2012 around 9:20am local time. Since then, the radar has not been operated due to damage.{{cite web | url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/weathermatrix/videos-lightning-hits-radar-power-transformers/44648 | title=Videos: Lightning Hits Radar, Power Transformers }}

System characteristics

OU-PRIME, aka OU', is located on the Research Campus of the University of Oklahoma within walking distance of the National Weather Center building. Through a unique design, OU-PRIME can provide real-time time-series data providing opportunities for rapid developments in radar signal processing algorithms. Because of its C-band wavelength and 1 MW transmit power, OU-PRIME is extremely sensitive to clouds with approximately 10 dB more sensitivity over the NEXRAD system (S-band).

Characteristics:

  • Location {{coord|35|10|48.8|N|97|26|0.6|W|display=inline,title}}
  • Radiating Center Height is 80 feet (24.4 m)
  • Operating frequency: 5510 MHz (C-band)
  • Wavelength: 5.44 cm
  • Pulse Length: 0.4, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0 μs
  • Pulse Repetition Frequency: 300–2000 Hz, 1 Hz step
  • 1 MW Peak Power (magnetron with solid-state modulator)
  • 8.5-meter Andrew precision C-band dish
  • High angular resolution: 0.45 degrees @ -3 dB points
  • Gain: 50 dBi
  • Sidelobe Level: Better than -26 dB one-way
  • Cross-Pol: Better than -30 dB
  • Rotation rate: 6-25 deg/s under typical scanning (30 deg/s max)
  • Minimum Detectable Signal: -112 dBm
  • Radar Sensitivity: -15 dBZ at 50 km
  • Noise Figure: 3 dB
  • Simultaneous dual-polarization
  • Flexible computing platform for real-time algorithm development
  • Real-time I/Q data recording/processing
  • A/D converter resolution: 16 bit
  • Receiver bandwidth: 6 MHz
  • Gate spacing: 25–500 m
  • Number of range gates: up to 2200
  • Clutter suppression: 60 dB (automatic detection/suppression using CLEAN-AP [http://cimms.ou.edu/~torres/dsp_clean_ap.html])
  • Advanced signal processing framework based on new STEP algorithm, including clutter estimation/suppression and multi-lag moment estimation

Research and educational pursuits

  • An integral part of OU's Weather Radar Curriculum{{cite web | url=http://arrc.ou.edu/education/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917172519/http://arrc.ou.edu/education/ | archive-date=2008-09-17 | title=Education }}
  • Non-precipitating cloud studies
  • Advanced signal processing algorithm development (e.g. Doppler spectrum)
  • Weather radar polarimetry / QPE
  • Next-generation digital receiver design
  • Severe weather detection algorithms based on spectral processing
  • Precipitation microphysics
  • Radar-based aerobiology
  • Adaptive real-time processing
  • Cloud physics and electrification
  • Storm dynamics

External links

{{Commons category|OU-PRIME radar}}

  • [http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20090405_12_0_NORMAN497117&archive=yes University of Oklahoma opens student access to advanced weather radar, Tulsa World, April 2009.]
  • [https://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2009-04-05-radar-oklahoma_N.htm New weather radar unveiled at Univ. of Oklahoma, USA TODAY, April 2009.]

References

{{Reflist}}

{{University of Oklahoma}}

{{US wx radar}}

Category:Weather radars

Category:University of Oklahoma campus