AMS Short Course on Weather Radar Calibration Laboratory:

14 Sept 2013, CSU-CHILL Site - Greeley, CO

The AMS Short Course on Weather Radar Calibration Laboratory will be held on Saturday, 14 Sept 2013, preceding the AMS 36th  Conference on Radar Meteorology to be held in Breckenridge, CO.  Preliminary programs, registration, hotel, and general information will be posted on the AMS Web site (www.ametsoc.org).  
               
Calibration is fundamental to all instrumentation.  Weather radar technology has advanced significantly in the last two decades, with new paradigms such as networked deployment and dual –polarization. A good knowledge of calibration of weather radars is very important not only for maintaining good radar, but also for informed use of radar observations.

Radar calibration is assuming ever increasing importance due to numerous advanced applications of Weather radar. With all these advances, the concept of weather radar calibration has been modernized over time with numerous advanced concepts. This course will provide practical hands on demonstration of various calibration principles and concepts for large scale radars such as the S band, megawatt transmitter class, as well as smaller, deployable radars such as the X band systems or radars with solid state transmitters. Emphasis will be on the use of modern technology to enable precise calibration.

The goal of the course is to provide not just the theory, but practical demonstrations calibration methods, so that the practitioners understand the intricacies of good calibration. The course is aimed at students and scientists who desire to know the details of radar calibration from a practitioner’s view point.

The course will be divided into two parts. The first will describe briefly the fundamental physical principles of calibrating radar and the special aspects of calibrating weather radar.  This segment will also introduce the recent advances such as calibration of dual-polarization radar.  The second part will demonstrate the practical procedures, and with emphasis on laboratory style work.

The course format consists of one day of  laboratory style work, with outdoor field activities.  The participants should come dressed appropriately.

The organizer  and chief instructor of this course is Prof  V. Chandrasekar, Colorado State University. He will be joined by leading experts in the field, namely, Prof Paul Smith (Professor Emeritus SDSM&T),  Dr Nitin Bharadwaj ( PNNL )  and Dr Luca Baldini ( ISAC). 

Lunch will be provided during the short course, in addition to coffee break refreshments.  Students should plan to bring their own laptops and notebooks.  Internet connection will be provided.

Registration for this course will be limited to 25 students, on a first-come, first-served basis only. Registration will be available on-line only and will open at 12:00pm on Wednesday, 19 June 2013 EDT and will close once the course reaches capacity. Please contact Cara Campbell (ccampbell@ametsoc.org) to be put on a waiting list if you find that registration has closed.

Please note that the CSU-CHILL site in Greeley, CO is located approx.. 1 hour (driving time) north of Denver and approx.. 2.5 hours (driving time) northeast of Breckenridge. Attendees will be on their own for transportation. The Organizer plans to get all registered students in touch to help organize a voluntary carpool system. More info. to follow via e-mail once registration is confirmed.

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