The NCAR HIAPER Cloud Radar (HCR) is an airborne millimeter (W-band) wavelength radar that provides high spatial and temporal resolution remote sensing capabilities on the NSF/NCAR HIAPER aircraft. The HCR is housed in a 20 inch diameter wing pod and is capable of estimating winds and microphysics over a 15 km radius with 40 meter gate spacing. HCR can be operated in scanning and fixed-pointing modes for detecting cloud boundaries and cloud liquid and ice. The HCR beamwidth is 0.7 deg and range resolution is between 40 and 150 m.
Configuration: NSF/NCAR HIAPER GV aircraft
Number of available systems: 1
NCAR HIAPER Cloud Radar (HCR) Contact
Dr. Jothiram Vivekanandan / vivek@ucar.edu / (303) 497-8402
https://www.eol.ucar.edu/observing_facilities/hcr
| HIAPER Cloud Radar (HCR) Facility Request Guidance Information | |
| Parameter | Specification |
| Antenna | 0.3 m, lens |
| Antenna Gain | 46.21 dB |
| Beamwidth | 0.68 deg |
| Transmit Frequency | 94.40 GHz |
| Transmit Wavelength | 3.2 mm |
| Transmitter | Klystron |
| Peak Power | 1.6 kW |
| Pulse Width | 0.256 - 1.0 μs |
| Pulse Repetition Frequency | 10 kHz |
| Receiver Dynamic Range | 76 dB |
| Receiver Bandwidth | 20 MHz |
| System Noise Power | -104 dBm |
| Noise Figure | 8.9 dB |
| Sensitivity (0 dB SNR) | -39.d dBz @ 1km |
| Unambiguous Velocity | +/- 7.75 m/sec |
| Dwell Time | 100 ms |
Typical Values:
Mission Coordinator Display:
Time Series Data: Moments data are provided in the Operations Center after research flights. Time series data are not typically available until after the project.
