House passes bill that could bring Doppler weather radar to Charlotte

Doppler Weather Radar Basics

Charlotte inched closer to the prospect of getting a sophisticated radar system to warn residents of approaching tornadoes and other violent weather conditions after the House of Representatives approved a bill designed to improve weather forecasting.

The bill now goes to the White House for President Donald Trumps signature.

House lawmakers Tuesday unanimously passed the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, which includes a measure by Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C., that would require the U.S. Commerce Department to conduct a study and develop a solution to a radar gap in the Charlotte area. The Senate approved the measure last week.

With a population of 2.4 million people, Charlotte is the largest metro area without a Doppler radar system.

Americans across the country rely on the national weather service to detect and provide warning for severe weather such as thunderstorms and tornadoes, Pittenger said on the House floor Tuesday. But Charlotte is currently the largest metropolitan area without adequate radar coverage. Addressing this shortcoming is an important step for public safety.

Pittenger and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., have lobbied hard in Congress to address the radar gap. In the Senate version of the forecasting innovation act, Burr included a provision instructing the National Weather Service to identify solutions for improving weather radar coverage of the Charlotte area.

This is a step in the right direction, Burr said last week. When it comes to dangerous tornadoes, accurate weather forecasting is critical to ensuring the safety of citizens. Im glad my colleagues recognize the importance of providing the tools that cities like Charlotte need to prepare for potential disasters.

Currently, Charlotte is covered by a Doppler radar system in Greer, S.C., 94 miles away from the Queen City. No other city of Charlottes size currently has a radar system located more than 58 miles away, according to Burrs office.

In 2013, the current system provided a tornado warning, but for citizens in an entirely wrong neighborhood. A tornado in December 2015 struck neighboring Union County with no warning from the National Weather Service. Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C.

On March 3, 2012, a tornado packing 135 mph winds roared through a section of northeastern Charlotte and swept then-7-year-old Jamal Stevens from his bed to an embankment along Interstate 485, more than 100 yards away. It deposited his then-5-year-old sister, Ayanna, in a neighbors yard.

The warning from the National Weather Service came 10 minutes later after the tornado had already touched down, Pittenger told fellow lawmakers Tuesday. Fortunately, our community has not suffered any fatalities due to this shortcoming, but we shouldnt wait for a tragedy to act.

Source: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article142937219.html

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Rutgers will host NBC"s powerful new weather radar system

BAFFLING Weather Radar Anomalies Over Switzerland Unexplained! 5/11/16

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Rutgers University is now home to the most powerful weather radar system in the tri-state area via a new deal with New York"s NBC 4 stationandTelemundo 47, the station announced Thursday.

The new StormTracker 4, powered by one million watts of the "latest, most cutting edge technology," is owned and operated by the station but located on land it"s leasing at Rutgers"Cook Campus. The university"s meteorology students will have access to the radar for their classes, according to Rutgers, which has not yet disclosed the terms of the lease.

StormTracker 4 willtrack storms in real time directly from ground level, providing greater insight on water droplets, hail, sleet, and approaching snow. It can even analyze weather data for a precise street location, according to the station.

The radar can generate 1,000 pulses within the blink of human eye and has a range of 50,000 square miles, NBC said.

"There is nothing likeStormTracker 4," said JaniceHuff, the station"s chief meteorologist.

NBC 4 previously used data from the National Weather Service. The new data will offer an important window into the formation of powerful and dangerous weather systems and should provide local residents with extra time to prepare when bad weather looms, Huff said.

Rutgers, which has the state"s only meteorology program that meets federal standards, was selected as the home for StormTracker 4 in part because of its proximity to Manhattan, the university said.

NBC is granting Rutgers" meteorology students access to theradar imagery to examine it and develop a long-term analysis of climate trends and weather patterns. It will also be used in weather broadcasts produced by RU-TV, the student television station, according to the university.

"We"re excited to give our meteorology students the opportunity to observe the weather as it is developing," said Anthony J. Broccoli, chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers.

Al Cope, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service"s regional forecast office in Mount Holly, said it is not yet known whether the weather service will have access to the weather data that comes from the new radar system at Rutgers.

For now, the two primary radar systems used by the Mount Holly office are at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst military complex in Burlington and Ocean counties and at the Dover Air Force base in Delaware. The weather service"s Upton, N.Y., office, which oversees five counties in northern and eastern New Jersey, primarily uses a radar system based on Long Island.

Those systems are part of a network of radar systems across the United States, Cope said.

"They are quite powerful," he said.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Len Melisurgo contributed to this report. Adam Clark may be reached atadam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at@realAdamClark.Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nj.com/education/2017/02/rutgers_gets_powerful_new_weather_radar_in_nbc_dea.html

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Rockwell Collins delivers weather radar to KAI for Korean Utility Helicopter program

Weather Radar Pilot Training DVD

Rockwell Collins has delivered its first RTA-4100 MultiScan Weather Radar (pictured here) to KAI for the medevac variant of the Korean Utility Helicopter. Rockwell Collins Photo

Rockwell Collins has delivered its first RTA-4100 MultiScan Weather Radar to KAI for the medevac variant of the Korean Utility Helicopter. This is the first selection of the new RTA-4100 Weather Radar with enhanced surface search modes in the Asia-Pacific region.

Our RTA-4100 MultiScan Weather Radar will provide enhanced safety and mission capability during the highly adverse weather conditions in which the KUH helicopter will be required to operate while performing its critical emergency medical evacuation missions, said Jim Walker, vice president and manager director, Asia Pacific, for Rockwell Collins.

The RTA-4100 MultiScan Weather Radars automatic tilt and gain management reduces crew workload over conventional weather radar systems by automatically reducing ground clutter ensuring comprehensive detection and display of weather related hazards.

In addition, the solid-state RTA-4100 offers the highest reliability of any weather radar in its class with substantially reduced size, weight and power. The RTA-4100 features advanced modes for maritime search operations.

This combined with enhanced shoreline depictions ensures accurate and timely recovery/transport during critical medical emergencies.

Source: http://www.verticalmag.com/news/article/Rockwell-Collins-delivers-weather-radar-to-KAI-for-Korean-Utility-Helicopter-program

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