Cloud radar

MIRA36-S Wolkenradar
Fig. 1: MIRA36-S cloud radar
MIRA36-S Wolkenradar
Fig. 2: MIRA36-S cloud radar in operation during the HyMeX campaign.
Cloud radar measurements
Fig. 3: Measurements of Z, w and LDR.
FMCW Wolkenradar Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT
Fig. 4: FMCW cloud radar

The cloud radar MIRA36-S (Fig. 1, 2) is a mobile, dual polarization Doppler radar with a wavelength of 8.5 mm (35.5 GHz). Its scanning facility enables scans above 45° elevation for all azimuth angles. Rotations in the azimuth are possible for slightly more than 360°, before a rotation backwards is needed.

One strength of the MIRA36-S cloud radar is the high sensitivity. With a pulse repitition frequency of 5 kHz and a pulse duration of 200 ns and an averaging time of 0.1 s it is able to detect -44 dBz echos in 5 km distance. The radar is mounted on a trailer and can, therefore, be used flexibly. 

Since 2021, the FMCW radar (Fig. 4) replaces the MIRA36-S.