These field notes were compiled from e-mails of Jon Lutz, and small notes attached to the removable storage drives.
Topics:
From Jon Lutz, 7-May-2004, to T. Lang via email: Tim Just some quick news from the Cabo radar. The good news is that we will have a wireless internet connection to the radar. It turns out that the radar site is used for a wireless repeater location. The radar is mostly functional except that there is no elevation control. The slip rings need repair (13k$) and it is not known when this cost will be approved,or the task accomplished. The other part is that the EEC software was "upgraded" and the radar will no longer do volume scans. Possibly the older software version can be re-installed. There will be no problem installing the HIQ processor at Cabo, but for now it is dependent on the EEC antenna control. Hopefully all this confusion can be resolved, however situations like this are typical. Palmito and Gusave use the old software so we are Ok there. Palmito still is not operational. I have ordered a satellite receiver for internet access at Gusave. Discussions with RAP for the TITAN installations are ongoing. I'll be back in Boulder next week. Jon
From Jon Lutz, 9-Jul-2004, to R. Rilling via email: Bob The time error for the Guasave data up to 7/2/04 is as follows: Time on the computer 13:06:01 Actual time 21:08:00 GMT This means add 8 hrs 1 min and 59 sec to get the GMT time. After 7/2/04 times will be correct so this problem should only happenthis one time. Jon
From Jon Lutz, 9-Jul-2004, to R. Rilling via personal communication: The maximum range was increased at Guasave on 2-Jul. Gates were added, with gate size kept the same. This is reflected in a change in size of the hourly data sets.
From Jon Lutz, 24-Jul-2004, to R. Rilling via email: Bob Here they are: Obregon: N 27 28.909 W 109 56.741 Alt 81m Guasave: N 25 34.055 W 108 27.80 Alt 60m Cabo San Lucas N 22 52.872 W 109 55.605 Alt 271m El Palmito N 25 45.336 W 104 54.274 Alt 2209 m The altitudes are for the base of the tower. I guess add about 10 m except for Guasave which would add 25 m. GPS altitudes are only good to 20 m anyway I think. Jon
[Note: this information applies to Guasave data for dates 12-Jul to 29/30-Jul.]
From Jon Lutz, 24-Jul-2004, to R. Rilling via email: Bob [Blank] is returning tomorrow with two Kangurus, from Guasave and Cabo. The Guasave data has a bad offset because I was fooled when I first arrived there with the test equipment. The DBZ of the noise at 120 km should be about 0 DBZ. Also the noise power in the data should be about minus 110. Both the transmit power and the receiver gain were off quite a bit on this 2nd disk. The first disk was closer. The disk being recorded now is OK. The CABO data doesnt need any corrections at this time. Thanks Jon
From Jon Lutz, 13-Aug-2004, to R. Rilling via email: Bob There is mounting evidence that the velocities on the SMN radars are backwards. Would it be possible for someone to give an opinion using the raw data files? All we have here are the Titan images. Its complicated by different elevation angles and folding. Also it appears that the reflectivities for Guasave are off a lot. We compared the same storm midway between the two radars. Again this was only on the Titan images. Jean made copies of some recent data. Arturo flew to Cabo to get the next Kanguru from there which he will give to Jean. Any news? Jon
From R. Rilling to David Ahijevych, email of 10-Dec-04: David, The missing Guasave SMN radar data has been recovered in its entirety. It will be transferred to the Mass-Store this weekend. Please note that the data record *is* compromised: the Met Staff at the radar turned the recording off on 22-Jul, and it was not turned on again until Jon Lutz arrived on 29-Jul. Bob Rilling