KASACR

The Ka-Band Scanning ARM Cloud Radar (KASACR) records cloud properties.

ARM’s scanning cloud radars are dual-frequency, dual-polarization Doppler radars mounted on a common scanning pedestal. Each pedestal includes a Ka-band radar (2kW peak power) and the deployment location determines whether the second radar is a W-band (1.7 kW peak power) or an X-band (20 kW peak power).

Beamwidths for Ka-bands paired with W-bands are roughly matched at 0.3 degrees. The X-band beamwidth is approximately 1 degree. Due to the narrow antenna beamwidth, ARM’s scanning cloud radars use scanning strategies unlike typical weather radars. Rather than focusing on plan position indicator, or PPI, scans, the KASACR uses range height indicator, or RHI, scans at numerous azimuths to obtain cloud volume data. Measurements collected with the KASACR are copolar and cross-polar radar reflectivity, Doppler velocity, spectra width and spectra when not scanning, and linear depolarization ratio.

KASACR data from the 2018–2019 Cloud, Aerosol, and Complex Terrain Interactions (CACTI) field campaign in Argentina, the 2019–2020 Cold-Air Outbreaks in the Marine Boundary Layer Experiment (COMBLE) in Norway, and the 2021–2022 TRacking Aerosol Convection interactions ExpeRiment (TRACER) in the Houston, Texas, area are available as b1-level products. Building on the original operational data from these campaigns, the b1-level products feature improved data quality resulting from extensive analyses and corrections. The data are cross-calibrated to a common point, datastreams are corrected for operational issues that occurred during the campaigns, and data quality/ground clutter masks and basic derived products are incorporated. For more information, read the b1-level processing reports for CACTI, COMBLE, and TRACER.