S-PolKa Users' Guide

S-PolKa RICO, Codrington, Barbuda
Nov 2004 - Jan 2005

1. Introduction
   • Project Description
   • The role of S-Pol
   • Links to other project information

2. Siting
   • Location
   • Terrain, Ground Clutter, and Blockage
   • Site Photos
     • S-Pol site Panoramic Photo (1000 Kbytes)
     • Stereo view of tropical Cu field

3. Dataset Description
   • Periods of Operation
   • List of Known Problems
   • Parameters Available
   • Periods of Special Data Collection
   • S-Pol Datasets
     • 9-Variable S-band, only (DORADE sweepfiles)
     • 24-variable full matrix (DORADE sweepfiles)
     • 11-Variable S/Ka Workshop data set (DORADE sweepfiles)
     • Scan images
     • Five million antenna camera photos
       • Antenna Cam Demo
       • Download camera images
   • List of Data Tapes & Raw Data
   • Requesting Data

4. Practical Notes on Using the Data
   • Quicklook image products
     • S-Pol DZ/VE scan image archive
   • Scan lists (there is no software to generate these)
     • Decoding scanlist information
   • Data Availability

5. Data Verification Issues
   • Ranging and Pointing
   • S/Ka beam alignment
   • Differential Reflectivity, Zdr
   • S-band Reflectivity
   • Ka-band noise power estimates and corrections
   • Ka-band Reflectivity
   • System sensitivity
     • Ka tower calibration proxy
     • Ka reflectivity bias and attenuation
   • Linear Depolarization Ratio, LDR
   • Radial Velocity
   • Differential Phase, PhiDP
   • Miscellaneous

6. Corrections Made in Processing
   • (see summary document.)

7. Software Tools
   • Solo and the translators
   • Zebra

Appendices

1. Operators' Log
2. S-Pol Calibration History