Английская Википедия:Australia's weather radars
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Use Australian English Шаблон:Infobox radar
The majority of Australia's weather radars are operated by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), an executive agency of the Australian Government. The radar network is continually being upgraded with new technology such as doppler and dual polarisation to provide better now-casting. Doppler weather radars are able to detect the movement of precipitation, making it very useful in detecting damaging winds associated with precipitation,[1] and determining if a thunderstorm has a rotating updraft, a key indicator of the presence of the most dangerous type of thunderstorm, a supercell.[2][3][4]
The new dual polarisation radars give forecasters the ability to:
- detect debris in the atmosphere, leading to more accurate tornado warnings;[5]
- distinguish between different precipitation types, leading to better estimations of hail size and severity;[5]
- better identify areas of heavy rainfall, leading to more accurate flood warnings;[6] and
- discern between precipitation and non-meteorological echoes such as chaff, birds, and insects.[5]
The dual polarisation transition
The transition to polarimetric (dual-polarised) radars began in 2017 with the upgrade of 4 Meteor 1500 radars located in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Sydney.[7] The network has further been enhanced through the installation of 8 new polarimetric Meteor 735 radars across WA,[8] NSW[9] & Victoria,[10] and two polarimetric WRM200 radars[11] manufactured by Vaisala, one to replace the radar in Dampier, WA which had been destroyed by severe tropical cyclone Damien in 2020, and one to replace an ageing radar near Gove in the Northern Territory. Six new Meteor 1700s were also installed between 2021 and 2023, 5 located in Qld,[12] and 1 in Perth, WA,[8] all equipped with dual polarisation technology. All the radars with the model name 'Meteor' were manufactured by Selex ES, now Leonardo.
Specifications are available for the Meteor 735, Meteor 1700, and the Vaisala WRM200.
Future radar network upgrades
The BoM has plans[13] [14][15] to:
- build a new radar in Tennant Creek, NT;
- build a new radar in the Toowoomba region in SE Qld;
- replace the radar in Townsville Qld and
- upgrade the Carnarvon radar in WA to add doppler capabilities.[16]
Notes
- Model names were found in radar metadata and on the Bureau's website.
- The number following the hyphen in the radar model name is most likely the diameter of the parabolic dish in feet.
- As a direct quote from the referenced website, "The WSR81C radar was simply a WF100-5C system rearranged as a remote weather watch radar system. It used the same basic transmitter/receiver/servo/antenna with the linear receiver omitted, and a shepherd's hook horn feed in an 8 foot antenna." and "the Bureau assembled its own remote weather watch [WSR81] radars by using a Rapic Transmitter fitted to a WF100 Transmitter/receiver, servo and a 'MET' only antenna purchased from EEC."[17]
- Radar beamwidths are not exact.
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory is served by the Captains Flat radar, located in New South Wales.
New South Wales
Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brewarrina | Шаблон:Coord | 149 | Meteor 735 | 1 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | |
Canberra (Captains Flat) | Шаблон:Coord | 1383 | DWSR74S14-13 | 2 | 250 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C | |
Grafton | Шаблон:Coord | 40 | WSR74S-14 | 2 | 500 | S | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |
Hillston | Шаблон:Coord | 144 | Meteor 735 | 1 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | |
Moree | Шаблон:Coord | 220 | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |
Namoi (Blackjack Mountain) | Шаблон:Coord | 699 | DWSR8502S-14 | 2 | 250 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |
Newcastle | Шаблон:Coord | 84 | DWSR74S14-13 | 2 | 250 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C | |
Norfolk Island | Шаблон:Coord | ~120 | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | The data from this radar is not in the national radar archive and therefore it's metadata is inaccessible. | |
Sydney (Terrey Hills) | Шаблон:Coord | 195 | Meteor 1500 | 1 | 250 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C[7] | Шаблон:Yes C | |
Wagga Wagga | Шаблон:Coord | 221 | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |
Wollongong (Appin) | Шаблон:Coord | 449 | DWSR8502S-14 | 2 | 250 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C | |
Yeoval | Шаблон:Coord | 487 | Meteor 735 | 1 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | The radar suffers moderate beam obstruction between approximately 70° and 130° due to an area of elevated terrain, meaning there is an underestimation of rain intensity in the lowest radar tilt between the same bearings. |
Kurnell | Шаблон:Coord | 64 | WSR81C-12 | 1 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:N/a | The Kurnell radar is a backup radar and consequently live radar images are not available. Archived radar data is uploaded here |
Northern Territory
Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alice Springs | Шаблон:Coord | 545 | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |
Darwin (Berrimah) | Шаблон:Coord | 51 | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |
Darwin Airport | Шаблон:Coord | 38 | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |
Gove | Шаблон:Coord | 61 | WRM 200 | 1 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | The WRM200 radar system replaced an aging WF100 radar in July 2023. |
Katherine (Tindal) | Шаблон:Coord | 131 | WSR81C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |
Warruwi | Шаблон:Coord | 43 | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X |
Queensland
Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bowen | Шаблон:Coord | WF100C-8 | 1.6 | 500 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | ||
Brisbane Airport | Шаблон:Coord | MeteoPress C | 1.7 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C[22] | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Doppler and dual-polarized measurements aren't publicly available due to quality control issues. | |
Brisbane (Mt Stapylton) | Шаблон:Coord | Meteor 1500 | 1 | 250 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C [7] | Шаблон:Yes C | ||
Cairns | Шаблон:Coord | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | 250 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | The signal processor was upgraded in August 2023. | |
Emerald | Шаблон:Coord | DWSR 8502 | 2 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |||
Gladstone | Шаблон:Coord | WSR-74 | 2 | S | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |||
Greenvale | Шаблон:Coord | Meteor 1700 | 1 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Gympie (Mt Kanigan) | Шаблон:Coord | DWSR 8502 | 2 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Longreach | Шаблон:Coord | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |||
Mackay | Шаблон:Coord | 42 | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | The Mackay radar was offline from 1 June 2023 to 11 December 2023 while the site was demolished and a new radar was constructed.[23] |
Marburg | Шаблон:Coord | 370 | Meteor 1700 | 1 | 250 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | In November 2023, a new Meteor-1700 radar replaced an ageing WSR-74.[24] The new radar has greatly improved image quality but suffers beam blockage on the tilts 0.6° and 0.83° West to South West of the radar, leading to a significant under-representation of reflectivity values between those bearings. |
Mornington Island | Шаблон:Coord | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |||
Mount Isa | Шаблон:Coord | DWSR 8502 | 2 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Richmond | Шаблон:Coord | Meteor 1700 | 1 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C[25] | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Taroom | Шаблон:Coord | Meteor 1700 | 1 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C[26] | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Townsville (Hervey Range) | Шаблон:Coord | DWSR 2502 | 1 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | This radar will be replaced with a new Meteor 1700 S band radar in 2024. | ||
Warrego | Шаблон:Coord | TVDR 2500 | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |||
Weipa | Шаблон:Coord | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |||
Willis Island | Шаблон:Coord | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X |
South Australia
Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adelaide (Buckland Park) | Шаблон:Coord | Meteor 1500 | 1 | 250 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C[7] | Шаблон:Yes C | ||
Adelaide (Sellicks Hill) | Шаблон:Coord | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Ceduna | Шаблон:Coord | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Mt Gambier | Шаблон:Coord | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |||
Woomera | Шаблон:Coord | WF 100C-8 | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X |
Tasmania
Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart (Mt Koonya) | Шаблон:Coord | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Hobart Airport | Шаблон:Coord | WF 100C-6 | 2 | C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |||
N.W. Tasmania (West Takone) | Шаблон:Coord | Wurrung 2502C | 1 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C |
Victoria
Name | Location | Elevation (metres) | Model Name | Beamwidth (degrees) | Range Resolution (metres) | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Rainfall Accumulations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bairnsdale | Шаблон:Coord | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X | |||
Melbourne | Шаблон:Coord | Meteor 1500 | 1 | S | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C[7] | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Melbourne (Broadmeadows) | Шаблон:Coord | Wurrung 2502C | 1.6 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Mildura | Шаблон:Coord | Meteor 735 | 1 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Rainbow | Шаблон:Coord | Meteor 735 | 1 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | |||
Yarrawonga | Шаблон:Coord | WSR 81C | 1 | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:No X | Шаблон:No X |
Western Australia
Research Radars
Note:
- Whilst the BoM may/may not own these radars, they are involved with the radars for research applications.
Name | Location | Elevation | Operational status | Radar model | IEEE Frequency Band | Doppler | Dual Pol | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CPOL | Шаблон:Coord | 50m | Inactive (6/12/1998 - 2/5/2017) | N/A | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | The data which CPOL has collected is used to study the microphysical and dynamic properties of thunderstorm convection in Darwin, Australia, enabling the improvement of atmospheric models' representations of the convection formed during the pre-monsoon buildup and active monsoon.[35][36] |
CP2 | Шаблон:Coords | 185.5m | Inactive (1/11/2007 - 1/6/2015) | N/A | S & X | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | The CP2 Research radar was a 1970's era radar, which the BoM received as a gift from the NCAR in the United States. The BoM retrofitted it with modern parts which gave it the unique ability to collect data at two frequencies, S and X band. The upgrades also provided state of the art dual polarisation and doppler technologies. The CP in its title stands for cloud physics, and the radar has been used to research thunderstorms, drive improvements in rainfall measurements and hail detection and explore the potential for cloud seeding. [37] |
Ocean Pol | N/A (Mobile radar) | 22m | Active (22/3/2015-) | N/A | C | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | This research radar is installed on the RV Investigator, an ocean research vessel. The radar collects data on research voyages, including trips to Antarctic waters, Heard Island and circumnavigations of Australia. [38] |
UQXPOL[39] | N/A (Mobile radar) | N/A | Active (14/10/2014-) | Furuno WR-2100 | X | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C | This research radar is operated by the University of Queensland and has been involved with research to improve hail detection and hail size prediction algorithms,[40] and also with research into bushfires and pyroconvection as part of a $1 million google.org philanthropic venture.[41][42] |
Monash University x-band | N/A (Mobile radar) | N/A | Active | Meteor 60DX | X | Шаблон:Yes C | Шаблон:Yes C |
References
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
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- ↑ 5,0 5,1 5,2 Шаблон:Cite web
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- ↑ 7,0 7,1 7,2 7,3 7,4 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 8,0 8,1 8,2 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 9,0 9,1 Шаблон:Cite web
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- ↑ 11,0 11,1 Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ 12,0 12,1 Шаблон:Cite web
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
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- ↑ Шаблон:Cite journal
See also
Related articles
External links
Шаблон:Meteorological equipment