Langley Hill Doppler radar

Last updated
Langley Hill Doppler radar
Langley NEXRAD.jpg
Langley Hill radar in August, 2011
Country of originUnited States (Washington State)
IntroducedSeptember 2011 (2011-09)
Type NEXRAD Weather radar
Frequency2,700 to 3,000 MHz (S band)
Altitude250 ft (76 m) [1]
Azimuth 0-360º
Elevation>0.2º
Power750 kW
Other NamesKLGX

The Langley Hill Doppler radar (KLGX) is a National Weather Service NEXRAD Doppler weather radar station on the Pacific coast of Washington State, in the United States. Prior to its construction, Washington's Olympic Peninsula coast was the only portion of the U.S. coastline without weather radar coverage, and "virtually no radar coverage [is] available over the ocean, where the majority of western Washington's weather originates" according to a Weather Service report to the United States Congress. [2]

Contents

History

During the 1990s the National Weather Service (NWS) replaced older weather radars across the United States by the NEXRAD network. In the Pacific Northwest, radars were placed on Camano Island, at Scappoose near Portland, on the top of Mt. Ashland near Medford, close to Spokane and Pendleton. This left gaps of coverage along the Washington coast due to the mountainous terrain. [1]

In the late 1990s, a group of university and media meteorologists were joined by local interested groups in forestry, fishing, and municipalities to call for an extra radar to fill the gap. [1] A major motivation for the station was early detection of Pacific Northwest windstorms; a proponent, Professor Cliff Mass of the University of Washington, said it would provide an additional 6 to 12 hour storm warning to residents of the Pacific Northwest. [3] In January and February 2001, a research radar placed at Westport, Washington clearly showed the structure of approaching storms and documented heavy precipitation on the coastal mountains. [1] Even NWS forecasters noted the substantial value to their forecasts.

However, it was not before the involvement of Senator Maria Cantwell in 2008 that the project began to be pushed in front of Congress. [1] Its location was announced in early 2011, construction started in March, and the unit was commissioned in September 2011. [3] [4] [5]

Location

One of the system's first images during checkout in August, 2011. Langley NEXRAD first reflectivity image.jpg
One of the system's first images during checkout in August, 2011.

The radar dome, the first on Washington's coast, is on a 130-foot (40 m) steel tower atop a 249-foot (76 m) high hill between Copalis Beach and Copalis Crossing, off State Route 109. [6] [7] Prior to its construction, coastal coverage from the nearest radar at Camano Island on Puget Sound was limited by the Olympic Mountains. [4] This radar (longitude 124.107° west) and KBHX at the Lost Coast near Eureka, California ( 40°29′56″N124°17′31″W / 40.499°N 124.292°W / 40.499; -124.292 (Eureka NEXRAD) ) were the westernmost weather radars in the continental United States as of 2013. [8]

The image to the left shows the coverage of the radar from the Salish Sea and southern Vancouver Island near top of frame, the entire Washington coast inside in the inner circle, and the central Oregon coast near bottom.

Technology

The radar is a NEXRAD WSR‐88D, and was one of the first in the nation to be upgraded to dual polarization capability on September 21, 2011. [9] [8] It is the only operational WSR-88D that scans as low as 0.2 degrees above the horizon, which sometimes causes image artifacts due to sea clutter. [10] [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NEXRAD</span> Network of weather radars operated by the NWS

NEXRAD or Nexrad is a network of 159 high-resolution S-band Doppler weather radars operated by the National Weather Service (NWS), an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) within the United States Department of Commerce, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within the Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Air Force within the Department of Defense. Its technical name is WSR-88D.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSR-74</span> Weather surveillance radar

WSR-74 radars were Weather Surveillance Radars designed in 1974 for the National Weather Service. They were added to the existing network of the WSR-57 model to improve forecasts and severe weather warnings. Some have been sold to other countries like Australia, Greece, and Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSR-57</span> Weather radar used by the U.S. Weather Bureau

WSR-57 radars were the USA's main weather surveillance radar for over 35 years. The National Weather Service operated a network of this model radar across the country, watching for severe weather.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weather radar</span> Radar used to locate and monitor meteorological conditions

Weather radar, also called weather surveillance radar (WSR) and Doppler weather radar, is a type of radar used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, and estimate its type. Modern weather radars are mostly pulse-Doppler radars, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to the intensity of the precipitation. Both types of data can be analyzed to determine the structure of storms and their potential to cause severe weather.

The National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather research laboratory under the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. It is one of seven NOAA Research Laboratories (RLs).

The Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS) was established at the University of Oklahoma in 1989 as one of the first eleven National Science Foundation Science and Technology Centers. Located at the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma, its mission is the development of techniques for the computer-based prediction of high-impact local weather, such as individual spring and winter storms, with the NEXRAD (WSR-88D) Doppler weather radar serving as a key data source.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ARMOR Doppler Weather Radar</span>

ARMOR Doppler weather radar is a C-Band, Dual-Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radar, located at the Huntsville International Airport in Huntsville, Alabama. The radar is a collaborative effort between WHNT-TV and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Live data for the radar is only available to a limited audience, such as UAH employees and NWS meteorologists. All ARMOR data is archived at the National Space Science and Technology Center located on the UAH campus.

Volumetric Imaging and Processing of Integrated Radar, known by the acronym VIPIR, is an analysis and display program for Doppler weather radar, created and sold by Baron Services. This software allows improved analysis of radar data for private users, in particular television stations, similar to the Weather Decision Support System program used by the National Weather Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tornado vortex signature</span>

A tornadic vortex signature, abbreviated TVS, is a Pulse-Doppler radar weather radar detected rotation algorithm that indicates the likely presence of a strong mesocyclone that is in some stage of tornadogenesis. It may give meteorologists the ability to pinpoint and track the location of tornadic rotation within a larger storm, and is one component of the National Weather Service's warning operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GRLevelX</span>

GRLevelX is a suite of data processing and display programs developed by Gibson Ridge Software, LLC (GRS), to view weather radar data. It went on the market in March 2005. It comes in three versions, all of which ingest raw data: GRLevel2 and GRLevel2 Analyst Edition for viewing Level II data of the National Weather Service (NWS), and GRLevel3 for viewing Level III data. All programs are capable of rendering dual polarization data.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terminal Doppler Weather Radar</span>

Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) is a Doppler weather radar system with a three-dimensional "pencil beam" used primarily for the detection of hazardous wind shear conditions, precipitation, and winds aloft on and near major airports situated in climates with great exposure to thunderstorms in the United States. As of 2011, all were in-service with 45 operational radars, some covering multiple airports in major metropolitan locations, across the United States & Puerto Rico. Several similar weather radars have also been sold to other countries such as China (Hong Kong). Funded by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), TDWR technology was developed in the early 1990s at Lincoln Laboratory, part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to assist air traffic controllers by providing real-time wind shear detection and high-resolution precipitation data.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Weather Service Lincoln, Illinois</span> Forecast office in central Illinois

National Weather Service Lincoln, Illinois also known as National Weather Service Central Illinois is a weather forecast office responsible for monitoring weather conditions for 35 counties in Central and Southeastern Illinois. The Central Illinois office initially consisted of two forecast offices in Peoria and Springfield until the current location in Lincoln became the sole local forecast office in 1995. Federal meteorology offices and stations in the region date back to the 19th century when the Army Signal Service began taking weather observations using weather equipment at the Springer Building in Springfield. Since that time the presence of the National Weather Service greatly increased with the installation of new weather radars, stations and forecast offices. The current office in Lincoln maintains a WSR-88D (NEXRAD) radar system, and Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) that greatly improve forecasting in the region. Lincoln is in charge of weather forecasts, warnings and local statements as well as aviation weather.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Weather Service North Little Rock, Arkansas</span>

National Weather Service - North Little Rock, AR, also known as National Weather Service - Little Rock, AR, is a local weather forecast office responsible for monitoring weather conditions for 47 of Arkansas's 75 counties, excluding 7 counties in Northwestern Arkansas, 9 counties in Southwestern and South Central Arkansas, Ashley and Chicot counties in Extreme Southeastern Arkansas, and 14 counties in Eastern Arkansas. Those counties are monitored by the Weather Service offices in Tulsa, Shreveport, Jackson (MS), and Memphis respectively. The current office in North Little Rock maintains a WSR-88D (NEXRAD) radar system and Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) that greatly improve forecasting in the region. North Little Rock is in charge of weather forecasts, warnings and local statements as well as aviation weather. The name of the Doppler weather radar (WSR-88D) code used by this office is LZK. The National Weather Service at North Little Rock, Arkansas programs 12 NOAA Weather Radio transmitters across Arkansas, with 25 transmitters statewide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Weather Service Memphis, Tennessee</span>

National Weather Service - Memphis, TN is a local weather forecast office responsible for monitoring weather conditions in the U.S. Mid-South region for counties in Eastern Arkansas, the Missouri Bootheel, Northern Mississippi, and Western Tennessee. The current office in Memphis maintains a WSR-88D (NEXRAD) radar system, and Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) that greatly improve forecasting in the region. Memphis is in charge of weather forecasts, warnings and local statements as well as aviation weather. The name of the Doppler weather radar (WSR-88D) used by this office is MEG. Darone Jones is the Meteorologist-In-Charge (MIC) of this office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Weather Service Tulsa, Oklahoma</span>

National Weather Service - Tulsa, Oklahoma (TSA) is a local weather forecast office responsible for monitoring weather conditions for 7 counties in Northwestern Arkansas, and 25 counties in Eastern Oklahoma. The current office in Tulsa maintains a WSR-88D (NEXRAD) radar system, and Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) that greatly improve forecasting in the region. Tulsa is in charge of weather forecasts, warnings and local statements as well as aviation weather and NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts in its service area. The office operates two Doppler weather radars, one in Tulsa (INX), and the other in Fort Smith, Arkansas (SRX). Steve Piltz is the Meteorologist-In-Charge (MIC) of this office.

Leslie R. Lemon was an American meteorologist bridging research and forecasting with expertise in weather radar, particularly regarding severe convective storms. Lemon was, along with Charles A. Doswell III, a seminal contributor to the modern conception of the supercell which was first identified by Keith Browning, and he developed the Lemon technique to estimate updraft strength and thunderstorm organization also as a continuation of Browning's work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Weather Service Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, Missouri</span> NWS Forecast Office serving west central Missouri, east central Kansas

National Weather Service - Pleasant Hill/Kansas City, Missouri is a Weather Forecast Office (WFO) of the National Weather Service, which is responsible for forecasts and the dissemination of weather warnings and advisories for 37 counties in northern and western Missouri and seven counties in extreme eastern Kansas, including the Kansas City and St. Joseph metropolitan areas. Though, as the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman, Oklahoma is responsible for issuing severe thunderstorm and tornado watches, the Pleasant Hill/Kansas City WFO only composes outline and status updates for SPC-issued watches affecting any portion of its designated County Warning Area.

National Weather Service Nashville is a weather forecast office responsible for monitoring weather conditions for 38 counties in Middle Tennessee. The office is in charge of weather forecasts, warnings, and local statements as well as aviation weather. It is equipped with a WSR-88D (NEXRAD) radar and an Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) that greatly increases the ability to forecast. While it is officially the Nashville forecast office, the WFO is technically located in Wilson County near Old Hickory, Tennessee, along the shoreline of Old Hickory Lake near the Davidson/Wilson County line.

National Weather Service Louisville is a weather forecast office responsible for monitoring weather conditions for 49 counties in north-central, south-central, and east-central Kentucky and 10 counties in southern Indiana. The office is in charge of weather forecasts, warnings and local statements as well as aviation weather. It is also equipped with a WSR-88D (NEXRAD) radar, and an Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) that greatly increase the ability to forecast. The NEXRAD radar site utilized by the forecast office is located near West Point, Kentucky on the north side of the Fort Knox Military Reservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Weather Service Gray/Portland, Maine</span>

The National Weather Service Gray/Portland, Maine (GYX) is a local office of the National Weather Service responsible for monitoring weather conditions over western Maine and all of New Hampshire. It is situated in Gray, Maine, in the metropolitan area of Portland, in a rural setting.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Langley Hill Coastal Radar: The Latest Addition to the National Weather Service Doppler Radar Network". University of Washington Atmospheric Sciences. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ Les Blumenthal (January 10, 2010), As storms intensify, Washington coast to get full radar coverage, McClatchy Newspapers
  3. 1 2 Tom Banse (September 29, 2011), New Weather Radar Heralds More Accurate And Timely Storm Warnings, NPR
  4. 1 2 Cliff Mass (February 6, 2011). "The Latest on the New Coastal Radar". Cliff Mass Weather Blog.
  5. ↑ Construction begins on high-tech Washington Coast radar site, Associated Press, March 18, 2011 – via KNKX
  6. ↑ Susan Gilmore (May 27, 2011), "New Doppler dome will help forecast coastal storms", The Seattle Times
  7. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Langley Hill, Grays Harbor County, Washington
  8. 1 2 WSR‐88D Dual Polarization Deployment Progress, National Weather Service, National radar coverage map, slide 2, dated June 24, 2013
  9. ↑ Cantwell Announces WA State's First Coastal Doppler Radar is Operational at Opening Celebration (press release), Office of Senator Maria Cantwell, September 29, 2011
  10. ↑ John Werth (March 17, 2014), "NEXRAD Coastal Radar Anomaly" (PDF), ZSE Weather Watch, Seattle ARTCC Center Weather Service Unit, National Weather Service, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 2–3
  11. ↑ Cliff Mass (February 23, 2013). "Radar, Wind, and Snow". Cliff Mass Weather Blog.

47°07′01″N124°06′25″W / 47.117°N 124.107°W / 47.117; -124.107

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.