Advanced Multi-frequency Radar: Design, Preliminary Measurements and Particle Size Distribution Retrieval

Multi-frequency radar remote sensing techniques are not widely used because few of such radars are available to the science community. This problem initiated the development of an Advanced Multi Frequency Radar (AMFR) at the University of Massachusetts Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory. AMFR is mobile radar that consists of three polarimetric Doppler subsystems operating at Ku- band, Ka-band and W-band. This combination of frequency bands allows a measurement of a wide range of atmospheric targets ranging from weakly reflecting clouds to strong precipitation. The antenna beamwidths at each frequency were intentionally matched, ensuring consistent sampling volume. It is expected that AMFR will play an important role in developing algorithms and validating measurements for an upcoming generation of space-borne radars. The frequency bands selected for AMFR match those of several sensors that have been deployed or are under development, such as the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agencies Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite radar, the NASA-JPL CloudSat radar and the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) satellite radars.