The Us Army Atmospheric Profiler Research Facility: Description And Capabilities

The US Army Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory [ASL] has established a unique atmospheric research facility at White Sands Missile Range PSMR], NM. The Atmospheric Profiler Research Facility [APRF] is designed to remotely monitor three primary atmospheric parameters: Wind speed and direction, Refractive index structure parameter [C:], and Virtual temperature. The APRF includes a suite of unique high performance [temporal and spatial resolution] phased-array, multiple reflector, and multiple aperture type atmospheric profilers. Specialized tower and surface based calibration and local ground truth instrumentation accompany the Facility. The data derived from the Facility components are massaged to provide an integrated profile of each of the parameters of interest. Quality assurance algorithms have been implemented to "edit" the resultant quantities. The Facility derived products support research applications including R&TD test bed analyses, imaging and propagation system design and test, meteorological and earth observation satellite ground truth, and test range environmental forecasting improvement. The established facility design and capabilities are fully described. BACKGROUND AND INTRQQUCTION The ASL at WSMR has been active in the study of atmospheric effects on electro-optical and laser systems for a number of years. In 1986, our thrust broadened to include ground truth and atmospheric measurement overlap for imaging and meteorological type satellites. Adequate characterization of the atmosphere for these systems required development of a specialized remote sensing research, measurement and analysis facility. This Facility, unique in the Army and known locally as the APRF, uses several high performance atmospheric remote sensing systems to provide high resolution [temporal and spatial] vertical profiles of wind speed and direction, humidity corrected C: , and virtual temperature. Data measured by or derived from each of the primary Facility components are managed by the MHUB, a data acquisition, storage, edit, and integration subfacility . Facility products range from graphics displays provided at local and remote using sites to hardcopy and magnetic media generated by local scientists. Initial data management and quality control procedures have been developed to promote accurate and useful data. A facility descriptive overview follows. FACILITY DESCRIPTION The primary remote sensing capability of the APRF is provided by four clear-air atmospheric profiling Doppler radars: 1) a 49.25 MHz, 2) a 404.37 MHz, 3) a 924 MHz, and 4) a 2900 MHz. All but the 2900 MHz use a fixed phased-array antenna and are pulsed; the 2900 MHz uses two isolated 3.3 m diameter parabolic reflectors [mounted on a trdnsportable trailer1