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Using the Micro Rain Radar as a research tool
Many international organisations are involved in measuring precipitation for a variety of uses from adjustment of weather radars, flood forecasting, present weather detection, precipitation contributions to chemical or aerosol transport and development, volcano eruptions.
This work is increasing the scientific communities knowledge of Drop Size Distributions (DSD) evolution with height studies as well as observation of the freezing layer also known as the 'bright band'.
Below are a list of some on-going projects using the Micro Rain Radar with links to relevant websites and published papers.
This work is increasing the scientific communities knowledge of Drop Size Distributions (DSD) evolution with height studies as well as observation of the freezing layer also known as the 'bright band'.
Below are a list of some on-going projects using the Micro Rain Radar with links to relevant websites and published papers.
(all links below open in a new window) Research: SoWMEX/TiMREX 2008Location: TaiwanThe Southwest Monsoon Experiment / Terrain-influenced Monsoon Rainfall Experiment (a joint Taiwan - US Monsoon Rainfall Study). The goal of the 2008 campaign was to improve the capability of quantitative precipitation estimation and forecasting during the Asian Summer Monsoon season. This was a continuation of the 2007 pilot study in which 4 Micro Rain Radars were deployed. For further reading please see: Website: www.ihs.ncu.edu.tw  SoWMEX/TiMREX (paper pdf - 4.72 Mb Mbs) Research: To improve ice storm predictionLocation: North Carolina, USAA mobile Micro Rain Radar known as the M2R2 is deployed as part of a network of MRRs in North Carolina to help with ice storm prediction. For live and raw data from this network see:  http://mmrr.renci.org/ Research: General Observation Period (GOP) 2007Location: Multiple locations across Europe The main goal of the GOP is to gather a comprehensive data set suitable for testing hypotheses and new modelling techniques. Micro Rain Radars (at least 13) will be used to observe rain drop size distribution over flat terrain (including marine) and over orographic terrain. Associated websites:  GOP overview  MRR sites across Europe Drop Size Distribution (GOP-3) Project: "BBC2" intensive (cloud) measurement campaignLocation: Cabauw, the Netherlands The objectives of the BBC2-campaign (BALTEX BRIDGE Campaign) are to gain a better understanding of cloud processes. The BBC2 campaign was jointly organised by the University of Bonn and KNMI. Four MRRs and a Metek SODAR/RASS system were among the instruments used. Associated websites:  Main BBC2 website  Main BBC2 website instrument page University of Bonn's main MRR page (language German)  Presentation - Spatial and temporal variability of drop size distribution from vertically pointing micro rain radar (MRR) (powerpoint - 3 Mb) Project: PREDICTLocation: Andes In a field campaign from December 2001 to April 2003, as part of the PREDICT project to understand the precise amount of precipitation in the tropical mountain forests of the Andes, measurements of vertical rainfall profiles were performed with the Micro Rain Radar. Also deployed was a NES210 Eigenbrodt Fog Collector to evaluate the characteristics of six manual quadratic polypropylene mesh collectors and a BIRAL VPF-730 forwardscatter meter to measure the atmospheric extinction and horizontal visibility, rain rate, particle number, droplet spectra and rain type. Article: Variability of precipitation in the Reserva Biólogica San Francisco / Southern Ecuador www.lyonia.org/viewArticle.php?articleID=407  Project: The GLOWA-DANUBE ProjectLocation: Upper Danube Catchment AreaDevelopment of Advanced Methods for the Retrieval of Precipitation from Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) Data. A project within the framework of Global Change of the Watercycle uses the Micro Rain Radar to compare the MSG data.  www.glowa.org  GLOWA_DANUBE Project on the LCRS website Projects: LCRSLocation: Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing (LCRS)The LCRS's meteorological equipment includes the Metek Micro Rain Radar, the Metek USA-1 ultrasonic anemometer and the Biral VPF-730 present weather sensor. LCRS website:  http://lcrs.geographie.uni-marburg.de/ Research overview:  http://lcrs.geographie.uni-marburg.de/index.php?id=28 LCRS Equipment  http://lcrs.geographie.uni-marburg.de/index.php?id=45)Project: PALAU ProjectLocation: Observation site in Aimeliik State, Republic of Palau.PALAU" is an acronym of Pacific Area Long-term Atmospheric observation for Understanding of climate change. One of the observation sites taking part is the Aimeliik State site to which a Micro Rain Radar was added in March 2004. Websites:  Aimeliik Site  PALAU (main page)  Activities of Palau (Western Pacific Program) Observational research (pdf 1.9 Mb) Project: SHARELocation: Northern California Sierra Nevada mountainThe Sierra Hydrometeorology Atmospheric River Experiment (SHARE) programme is studying the multi-scale physics of orographic precipitation development and air mass transformation associated with frontal systems crossing the northern California Sierra Nevada mountain range. The field phase was in 2008 / 2009 with a Micro Rain Radar located near the crest at the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory and another at a site in the lee of the Sierras. The continuous monitoring of the crest and lee-side precipitation by the Micro Rain Radars will complement aircraft measurements. The high temporal and spatial resolution of the Micro Rain Radar makes it well suited to observe the details of snow and weak precipitation structures.  www4.ncsu.edu/~seyuter/share_index.htmProject: AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses)Location: Nangatchori, BeninAMMA is an international project to improve knowledge and understanding of the West African Monsoon (WAM). In 2006, as part of this programme, the Universities of Bonn and Cologne took measurements over a year period with a Micro Rain Radar, Microwave Profiler and a Lidar Ceilometer at the Nangatchori observation station.  http://amma-international.org/Project: RAINMAPLocation: UKRAINMAP is an EPSRC funded network that aims to foster communication and collaboration between diverse communities interested in developing and applying models of rain rate variation to a wide range of engineering problems. Please see more information on their website:  www.rainmap.rl.ac.uk/default.htmAt the RAINMAP Meeting in September 2007 Dr Chris Kidd (University of Birmingham) presented a paper entitled "Experiences with a newtwork of Micro Rain Radars" in which Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges and Micro Rain Radars were compared. To view this presentation please click on:  Experiences with a network of Micro Rain Radars (8 Mb pdf)A LIST OF PUBLISHED PAPERS Rain: Relaxations in the sky A complexity view of rainfall. Rain Observations with a vertically looking micro rain radar (MRR) Vertical structure of rain parameters as observed with Micro Rain Radars Rain observations with micro rain radar (MRR) over Thumba Micro Rain Radar data visualization tool Estimation of the Melting Layer from a Micro Rain Radar (MRR) data at the Cloud Physics Observation System (CPOS) site at Daegwallyeong Weather Station Radar Measurement of Rain Storage in a Deciduous Tree (pdf) Time-height evolution of measured raindrop size distributions (pdf 3.71 Mb) Gradients of fog and rain in a tropical montane cloud forest of southern Ecuador and its chemical composition Areal homogeneity of Z-R-relations Quantitative rainfall measurements: A comparison of Micro Rain Radars (MRRs) and Rain Gauges If you are undertaking research using the Micro Rain Radar and you would like us to link to your website or paper(s) please let us know E&OE.
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