Details of Award
NERC Reference : NER/D/S/2003/00704
The use of dual-frequency microwave links for calibrating weather radars, accurately measuring path-averaged rainfall and detecting sleet and snow.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor GJG Upton, STFC - Laboratories, RAL Space
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor AR Holt, University of Essex, Mathematical Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor J Goddard, STFC - Laboratories, RAL Space
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor C Collier, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Grant held at:
- STFC - Laboratories, RAL Space
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Science Topics:
- Land - Atmosphere Interactions
- Water In The Atmosphere
- Hydrological Processes
- Abstract:
- When a signal is sent from A to B during a rainstorm, the resulting loss in signal strength (the 'attenuation') indicates the amount of rain on the path. We have shown that, in theory, the difference in the attenuations experienced by carefully chosen pairs of frequencies is linearly related to rainfall. In two projects, Bolton (NERC:GR/3/C0035), (EU: MANTISSA), we have demonstrated that theory can be turned into practice. We have found that the existing attenuation-difference procedure works well with high rainrates, but less well in drizzle. It produces inflated rainfall estimates in sleet and does not 'see' snow. These difficulties are addressed by the proposed experiment, in which the polarisation of a transmitter is rotated through 45 degrees and the horizontal and vertical components are received separately. The result will be information about the shape of intervening precipitation enabling a resolution of the existing shortcomings. The Met Office currently calibrate their radars using intermittent information from point sources (gauges). The link offers continuous calibration using data integrated over tens of kilometres. A major thrust of the proposed project is to investigate the effectiveness of this calibration. The stochastic-deterministic model developed for the River Irwell as part of the MANTISSA project ignored the potential impact of sleet and melting snow. Since the headwaters of the Irwell are in the uplands of the West Pennine Moors, sleet is a real possibility (the lower-lying Manchester Airport averaged 28 days a year with lying snow in the period 1951-80) and the modelling of its uncertainty concerning output flows presents a considerable hydrological challenge.
- Period of Award:
- 25 Mar 2004 - 24 Sep 2007
- Value:
- £60,429 Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NER/D/S/2003/00704
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- EO Programmes Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Connect B
This grant award has a total value of £60,429
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Indirect Costs | Total - Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| £29,826 | £5,368 | £13,720 | £11,515 |
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