Coverage of China New Generation Weather Radar Network

The China Meteorological Administration has deployed the China New Generation Weather Radar (CINRAD) network for severe weather detection and to improve initial conditions for numerical weather prediction models. The CINRAD network consists of 217 radars comprising 123 S-band and 94 C-band radars ov...

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Main Authors: Chao Min, Sheng Chen, Jonathan J. Gourley, Haonan Chen, Asi Zhang, Yong Huang, Chaoying Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Advances in Meteorology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/5789358
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author Chao Min
Sheng Chen
Jonathan J. Gourley
Haonan Chen
Asi Zhang
Yong Huang
Chaoying Huang
author_facet Chao Min
Sheng Chen
Jonathan J. Gourley
Haonan Chen
Asi Zhang
Yong Huang
Chaoying Huang
author_sort Chao Min
collection DOAJ
description The China Meteorological Administration has deployed the China New Generation Weather Radar (CINRAD) network for severe weather detection and to improve initial conditions for numerical weather prediction models. The CINRAD network consists of 217 radars comprising 123 S-band and 94 C-band radars over mainland China. In this paper, a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) and beam propagation simulations are used to compute radar beam blockage and evaluate the effective radar coverage over China. Results show that the radar coverage at a height of 1 km above ground level (AGL) is restricted in complex terrain regions. The effective coverage maps at heights of 2 km and 3 km AGL indicate that the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and North China Plain have more overlapping radar coverage than other regions in China. Over eastern China, almost all areas can be sampled by more than 2 radars within 5 km above mean sea level (MSL), but the radars operating in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau still suffer from serious beam blockage caused by intervening terrain. Overall, the radars installed in western China suffer from much more severe beam blockage than those deployed in eastern China. Maps generated in this study will inform users of the CINRAD data of their limitations for use in precipitation estimation, as inputs to other weather and hydrological models, and for satellite validation studies.
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spelling doaj-art-a409db172f8748aebaad1db68198a8a62025-08-20T03:38:26ZengWileyAdvances in Meteorology1687-93091687-93172019-01-01201910.1155/2019/57893585789358Coverage of China New Generation Weather Radar NetworkChao Min0Sheng Chen1Jonathan J. Gourley2Haonan Chen3Asi Zhang4Yong Huang5Chaoying Huang6School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, ChinaNOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman 73072, USAColorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USASchool of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, ChinaAnhui Meteorological Bureau, Hefei 230061, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, Guangxi Teachers Education University, Nanning 530011, ChinaThe China Meteorological Administration has deployed the China New Generation Weather Radar (CINRAD) network for severe weather detection and to improve initial conditions for numerical weather prediction models. The CINRAD network consists of 217 radars comprising 123 S-band and 94 C-band radars over mainland China. In this paper, a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) and beam propagation simulations are used to compute radar beam blockage and evaluate the effective radar coverage over China. Results show that the radar coverage at a height of 1 km above ground level (AGL) is restricted in complex terrain regions. The effective coverage maps at heights of 2 km and 3 km AGL indicate that the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and North China Plain have more overlapping radar coverage than other regions in China. Over eastern China, almost all areas can be sampled by more than 2 radars within 5 km above mean sea level (MSL), but the radars operating in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau still suffer from serious beam blockage caused by intervening terrain. Overall, the radars installed in western China suffer from much more severe beam blockage than those deployed in eastern China. Maps generated in this study will inform users of the CINRAD data of their limitations for use in precipitation estimation, as inputs to other weather and hydrological models, and for satellite validation studies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/5789358
spellingShingle Chao Min
Sheng Chen
Jonathan J. Gourley
Haonan Chen
Asi Zhang
Yong Huang
Chaoying Huang
Coverage of China New Generation Weather Radar Network
Advances in Meteorology
title Coverage of China New Generation Weather Radar Network
title_full Coverage of China New Generation Weather Radar Network
title_fullStr Coverage of China New Generation Weather Radar Network
title_full_unstemmed Coverage of China New Generation Weather Radar Network
title_short Coverage of China New Generation Weather Radar Network
title_sort coverage of china new generation weather radar network
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/5789358
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AT haonanchen coverageofchinanewgenerationweatherradarnetwork
AT asizhang coverageofchinanewgenerationweatherradarnetwork
AT yonghuang coverageofchinanewgenerationweatherradarnetwork
AT chaoyinghuang coverageofchinanewgenerationweatherradarnetwork