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S-Pol

Description of the radar set, tactical-technical characteristics

Figure 1: S-Pol Radar during Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), Photo by Scott Ellis
(Source: NCAR/UCAR Image and Multimedia Gallery )

Figure 1: S-Pol Radar during Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), Photo by Scott Ellis
(Source: NCAR/UCAR Image and Multimedia Gallery )

Specifications
frequency: 2.7 … 2.9 GHz
(S-Band)
pulse repetition time (PRT):
pulse repetition frequency (PRF): 325 … 1 200 Hz
pulsewidth (τ): 0.3 … 1.4 µs
receiving time:
dead time:
peak power: > 1 MW
average power:
instrumented range:
range resolution: 37.5 … 1 000 m
accuracy:
beamwidth: 0.92°
hits per scan:
antenna rotation:
MTBCF:
MTTR:

S-Pol

The S-Pol is a dual polarized weather radar operating in the S-band, built in 1995 for research purposes.

It uses a centrally fed parabolic antenna with 8.5 m diameter. The transmitter was developed from the ASR-9 and uses an air-cooled klystron that provides about 1 MW of pulse power at a pulse duration of 1 µs. The radar is equipped with two receivers operating simultaneously for horizontal and vertical polarization, but can only transmit mechanically switchable in one of the two polarization directions. The receivers have a sensitivity of -115 dBm with a receiver dynamic range of 90 dB.

In a later upgrade, an additional radar operating in Ka-Band was mounted at the lower edge of the parabolic antenna. This resulted in the name S-Polka.

Picture gallery of S-Pol

Figure 2: S-Polka