The Aggieland skyline will change this weekend when a new weather radar system is installed on the roof of Texas A&M University’s Eller Oceanography and Meteorology Building.
The installation of the new radar is the result of a partnership between Climavision and the Texas A&M Department of Atmospheric Sciences to reimagine how students, faculty and the community learn and respond to weather conditions.
The new radar replaces the aging Agi Doppler Radar (ADRAD) that has dominated Agilan since the construction of the Operations and Maintenance Building in 1973. The last major modernization of ADRAD occurred in 1997.
Weather permitting, the removal of ADRAD and installation of the new radar will take place using a helicopter on Saturday.
“Modern radar systems have undergone numerous upgrades over time, including old and new technologies,” said Dr. Eric Nelson, assistant professor of atmospheric sciences. “Although components such as the radiation receiver and transmitter were successfully recovered, our main concern was their mechanical rotation on the roof of the operational building. Reliable radar operation became increasingly expensive and uncertain due to wear and tear. Although sometimes functional, ensuring consistent performance became an important issue, and when the opportunity for Climavision arose, it made practical sense.”
The new radar system is an X-band radar that provides higher resolution data acquisition than ADRAD’s S-band capabilities. It features an 8-foot antenna inside a 12-foot radome, a significant departure from older radars that did not have a protective housing to protect them from environmental conditions such as weather, debris and physical damage.
The new radar adds dual polarization capabilities and continuous operation, the most significant improvement over its predecessor. Unlike ADRAD’s single horizontal polarization, dual polarization allows radar waves to travel in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Dr. Courtney Schumacher, professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, explains this concept with an analogy to snakes and dolphins.
“Imagine a snake on the ground, symbolizing the horizontal polarization of the old radar,” Schumacher said. “In comparison, the new radar behaves more like a dolphin, being able to move in a vertical plane, allowing observations in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. This capability allows us to detect hydrometeors in four dimensions and distinguish between ice, sleet and snow. and hail, and also evaluate factors such as the amount and intensity of precipitation.”
Its continuous operation means the radar can provide a more complete, high-resolution view without the need for teachers and students to participate, as long as weather systems are within range.
“The location of the Texas A&M radar makes it an important radar for observing some of the most interesting and sometimes dangerous weather phenomena,” said Dr. Don Conley, professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M. “The new radar will provide new research datasets for traditional severe and hazardous weather research, while also providing additional opportunities for undergraduate students to conduct introductory research using valuable local data sets.”
The new radar’s impact extends beyond academia, significantly improving weather forecasting and warning services for local communities by expanding coverage and increasing accuracy. Upgraded capabilities are critical to issuing timely and accurate weather warnings, saving lives and reducing property damage during severe weather events. Bryan College Station, previously located in a “radar gap” area, will receive full coverage at lower altitudes, increasing public preparedness and safety.
The radar data will be made available to Climavision’s federal partners, such as the National Severe Storms Laboratory, as well as other Climavision clients, including the media. It is because of the dual impact on academic excellence and public safety that Climavision is very enthusiastic about partnering with Texas A&M to develop the new radar.
“It’s exciting to work with Texas A&M to install our weather radar to fill gaps in the field,” said Chris Good, CEO of Louisville, Kentucky-based Climavision. “This project not only expands comprehensive low-level coverage. university and college campuses, but also provides students with hands-on experience learning cutting-edge data that will have a real impact on local communities.”
The new Climavision radar and partnership with the Department of Atmospheric Sciences marks a milestone in Texas A&M’s rich legacy of radar technology, which dates back to the 1960s and has always been at the forefront of innovation.
“Texas A&M has long played a pioneering role in weather radar research,” Conley said. “Professor Aggie was instrumental in identifying the optimal frequencies and wavelengths for radar use, laying the foundation for advances across the country since the 1960s. The importance of radar was evident with the construction of the Bureau of Meteorology building in 1973. The building is designed to house and utilize this critical technology.”
This technology created fond memories for Texas A&M University faculty, staff and students throughout the radar’s history as it retired.
Texas A&M University students operated ADRAD during Hurricane Ike in 2008 and relayed critical information to the National Weather Service (NWS). In addition to data monitoring, students provided mechanical safety to radars as hurricanes approached the coast and also monitored critical data sets that might be needed by the National Weather Service.
On March 21, 2022, ADRAD provided emergency assistance to the NWS when KGRK Williamson County radar monitoring supercells approaching the Brazos Valley were temporarily disabled by a tornado. The first tornado warning issued that night to track a supercell along the northern Burleson County line was based on ADRAD analysis. The next day, seven tornadoes were confirmed in the NWS Houston/Galveston County warning area, and ADRAD played a vital role in forecasting and warning during the event.
Through its partnership with Climavision, Texas A&M Atmopher Sciences aims to significantly expand the capabilities of its new radar system.
“AjiDoppler radar has served Texas A&M and the community well for decades,” said Dr. R. Saravanan, professor and director of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M. “As it approaches the end of its useful life, we are pleased to form a new partnership with Climavision to ensure a timely replacement. Our students will have access to the latest radar data for their meteorology education. “In addition, the new radar will fill the ‘blank field’ at Bryan College Station to help the local community better prepare for severe weather.”
A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony is planned for the beginning of the fall 2024 semester, when the radar is fully operational.
Post time: Oct-08-2024