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ASR-9 Weather Systems Processor (WSP): wind shear algorithms performance assessment

November 13, 1996
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
Joseph A. Cullen
…
Published in:
Workshop on Wind Shear and Wind Shear Alert Systems,. Oklahoma City, 13-15 November, 1996.
Topic:
aviation weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Under Federal Aviation Administration sponsorship, Lincoln Laboratory has developed a prototype Airport Surveillance Radar Weather Systems Processor (ASR-WSP). This prototype has been used for field measurements and operational demonstrations since 1987. Measurements so acquired provide an extensive database for development and validation of the algorithms used by the WSP to generate operational wind shear information for Air Traffic Controllers. In this paper we assess the performance of the current versions of the WSP's microburst and gust front wind shear detection algorithms on data from each of the locations at which our prototype system has operated. Evaluation of the associated environmental characteristics (e.g., storm structure, radar ground clutter environment) allows for generalization of these results to the major U.S. climatic regimes where the production version of WSP will be deployed.
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Summary

Under Federal Aviation Administration sponsorship, Lincoln Laboratory has developed a prototype Airport Surveillance Radar Weather Systems Processor (ASR-WSP). This prototype has been used for field measurements and operational demonstrations since 1987. Measurements so acquired provide an extensive database for development and validation of the algorithms used by the WSP to...

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ASR-9 Weather Systems Processor (WSP): wind shear algorithms performance assessment

Analysis of the 12 April 1996 wind shear incident at DFW airport

November 13, 1996
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
Cynthia A. Meuse
…
Published in:
Workshop on Wind Shear and Wind Shear Alert Systems, 13-15 November, 1996.
Topic:
aviation weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Wind shear detection algorithms that operate on Doppler radar data are tuned to primarily recognize the velocity and reflectivity signatures associated with microbursts and gust fronts. Microbursts produce a divergent pattern in the velocity field that is associated with a descending column of precipitation. Gust fronts produce a convergent pattern that is often associated with a thin-line reflectivity feature. On April 12, 1996 at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) three pilots reported encounters with wind shear in a five minute period (2329-33 GMT). The third pilot (AA 1352) reported an encounter with "severe wind shear", which we refer to as "the incident" throughout the paper. He used maximum throttle to keep the MD-80 in the air and reported that it was only "by the grace of God" that the aircraft did not crash (Dallas Morning News, 4/19/96). The plane, originally bound for Pittsburgh, was diverted to Tulsa where the passengers were offloaded to another aircraft, the black box was removed, and the engines were checked according to procedures required whenever maximum throttle is utilized.
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Summary

Wind shear detection algorithms that operate on Doppler radar data are tuned to primarily recognize the velocity and reflectivity signatures associated with microbursts and gust fronts. Microbursts produce a divergent pattern in the velocity field that is associated with a descending column of precipitation. Gust fronts produce a convergent pattern...

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Analysis of the 12 April 1996 wind shear incident at DFW airport

ASR-9 Weather System Processor (WSP): wind shear algorithms performance assessment

May 7, 1996
  |
Project Report
Author:
Mark E. Weber
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-247
Topic:
wind shear
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Lincoln Laboratory has developed a prototype Airport Surveillance Radar Weather Systems Processor (ASR-WSP) that has been used for field measurements and operational demonstrations since 1987. Measurements acquired with this prototype provide an extensive data base for development and validation of the algorithms the WSP uses to generate operational wind shear information for Air Traffic Controllers. This report addresses the performance of the current versions of the WSP's microburst and gust front wind shear detection algorithms on available data from each of the WSP's operational sites. Evaluation of the associated environmental characteristics (e.g., storm structure, radar ground clutter environment) allows for generalization of results of the other major U.S. climatic regimes where the production version of WSP will be deployed.
READ LESS

Summary

Lincoln Laboratory has developed a prototype Airport Surveillance Radar Weather Systems Processor (ASR-WSP) that has been used for field measurements and operational demonstrations since 1987. Measurements acquired with this prototype provide an extensive data base for development and validation of the algorithms the WSP uses to generate operational wind shear...

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ASR-9 Weather System Processor (WSP): wind shear algorithms performance assessment

Comparative analysis of ground-based wind shear detection radars

May 8, 1995
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
Mark E. Weber
…
Published in:
Proc. IEEE 1995 Int. Radar Conf., 8-11 May 1995, pp. 486-495.
Topic:
wind shear
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

The UNISYS Corporation has developed a microburst prediction radar (MBPR) to provide detection and short-term predictions of the most hazardous form of low altitude wind shear in the vicinity of an airport. The MBPR is intended for deployment on- or near-airport so as to minimize range coverage (and associated radar power-aperture) requirements. Like the airport surveillance radar wind shear processor (ASR-WSP), the cost of the MBPR is significantly less than that of the terminal Doppler weather radar (TDWR) so that its deployment at smaller airports might be economically justified if the performance is operationally acceptable. Field tests of engineering prototypes of the MBPR have been conducted in conjunction with FAA-sponsored TDWR and WSP demonstration programs. We assess the capabilities and limitations of each of these systems using a consistent methodology that emphasizes the comparative analysis of the significant parameters of each radar in relation to wind shear phenomenology. An extensive database on wind shear event radar cross section, spatial structure and intensity distribution-derived through our FAA-sponsored testing of TDWR and ASR-WSP prototypes is an important asset in developing this comparison.
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Summary

The UNISYS Corporation has developed a microburst prediction radar (MBPR) to provide detection and short-term predictions of the most hazardous form of low altitude wind shear in the vicinity of an airport. The MBPR is intended for deployment on- or near-airport so as to minimize range coverage (and associated radar...

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Comparative analysis of ground-based wind shear detection radars

Quantifying airport terminal area weather surveillance requirements

May 24, 1993
  |
Conference Paper
Author:
Marilyn M. Wolfson
…
Published in:
26th Int. Conf. on Radar Meteorology, 24-28 May 1993, pp. 47-49.
Topic:
aviation weather
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Area Surveillance System (TASS) research, engineering, and development program was initiated in part to address future weather sensing needs in the terminal area. By the early 21st century, planned systems such as the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) and Airport Surveillance Radar-9 (ASR-9) will be well into their designed life cycles. Any new terminal weather surveillance system should be designed to address existing deficiencies. Key unmet weather sensing needs include detections of: true 3-dimensional winds (vs. radial component), winds in the absence of precipitation, wake vortices, total lightning, hail, icing conditions, clear air turbulence, hazardous weather cells (with adequate time and space resolution), cloud cover and cloud bases (including layers), fog, and visibility (Runway Visual Range), as well as predictions of: the atmospheric conditions mentioned above, wind shifts, microbursts, tornadoes, and snow/rainfall rates (Evans 1991a, McCarthy 1991). In this paper, we investigate the premise that hazardous weather cells are not currently being measured with adequate time and space resolution in the terminal area. Since a new surveillance system should be based on knowledge of storm dynamics, we have performed a preliminary study of update rate (using rapid scan radar to detect rapidly developing thunderstorms and precursors to the low altitude hazards such as microbursts that they produce. Other aspects of a future radar system such as multi-parameter techniques required to discriminate between ice and water phase precipitation, etc. are not considered.
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Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Area Surveillance System (TASS) research, engineering, and development program was initiated in part to address future weather sensing needs in the terminal area. By the early 21st century, planned systems such as the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) and Airport Surveillance Radar-9 (ASR-9) will...

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Quantifying airport terminal area weather surveillance requirements

Summary of triple Doppler data, Orlando 1991

April 7, 1992
  |
Project Report
Author:
Christopher F. Keohan
…
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-186
Topic:
doppler radar
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sponsorship, Lincoln Laboratory conducted an aviation weather hazard measurement and operational demonstration program during the summer of 1991 near the Orlando International Airport. Three Doppler radars were sited in a triangle around the airport, allowing triple Doppler coverage of thunderstorms and microbursts occurring there. This report contains a summary of all of the microburst producing thunderstorms that occurred within the triple Doppler region that were scanned in a coordinated fashion, during the months of June, July, August, and September, 1991. Statistics on the microburst events are presented to give an overall picture of the available data for use in analysis. The bulk of the report consists of detailed information about each triple Doppler day, including the time, location, and strength of microbursts within the triple Doppler period as well as the availability of data from supporting sensors including the ASR-9-WSR Doppler radar, radiosondes, LLWAS, Mesonet, AWOS, instrumented aircraft, ACARS, interferometer, and corona points.
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Summary

Under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sponsorship, Lincoln Laboratory conducted an aviation weather hazard measurement and operational demonstration program during the summer of 1991 near the Orlando International Airport. Three Doppler radars were sited in a triangle around the airport, allowing triple Doppler coverage of thunderstorms and microbursts occurring there. This...

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Summary of triple Doppler data, Orlando 1991
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