First built in 1988, the WSR-88D Radar (Weather Surveillance Radar, 1988 Doppler) is one of the most powerful Weather Surveillance Doppler Radars in the world. It’s been installed at over 160 locations across the United States, including in Puerto Rico and several pacific islands.
Jointly operated by the National Weather Service (NWS), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the U.S. Air Force, data from the WSR 88-D Radar, also known as NEXRAD, system can be processed to map patterns and movement in precipitation across the United States. But it has some limitations, and its designed lifespan is reaching an end.
The most major deficiency in the WSR-88D system come in its slow scan time, taking up to nearly 6 full minutes to complete a full scan of the atmosphere, and severe weather can change in just seconds.
“They are still the world class gold standard radar across the entire world for detection of severe weather. However, they’re becoming more costly to maintain, and because of that, we will have to look for a replacement.” – Jessica Shultz, Deputy Director of the RADAR Next program.
To replace the system, the United States might be turning towards Phased Array Radar (PAR). Rather than using a large rotating dish to send and receive the radar signals, PAR takes advantage of several small electronically controlled elements that create stationary antennas. With that system, the direction of a radar beam can be changed with no mechanical movement, allowing for much faster scans of the atmosphere.
PAR beats the NEXRAD by minutes, taking less than a minute to complete a scan. A research prototype of PAR, called the Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD), was developed to test the capabilities of a nationwide PAR network, and it’s already been deployed with great real-world success.
“The next 10 years are critical for the future of weather radar in the United States. The decisions we make will have long lasting impacts not only on the science and engineering of weather radar, but also the safety of our citizens across the country. PAR is ready to be part of Radar Next and will serve as a critical infrastructure investment that will advance our understanding of severe weather and train our next generation of STEM talent.” – National Severe Storms Laboratory Director DaNa Carlis.