National Center for Atmospheric Research
ATD... MAP99 ATD Radar Operations
Summary: S-Pol Data Log


About this Log

This is a transcript of the data log written on-site at S-Pol during operations. The log contains information about system problems and adjustments. This information may be of use to the analyst who finds something that is suspected of being caused by a system problem. Every attempt was made to transcribe information exactly, with changes limited to some minor editorial corrections (generally, spelling or expansion of abbreviations). Any comments added by the editor are shown in square brackets [like this].

Special thanks are given here to the operators of S-Pol who ran the system and wrote this log. The operators' initials are provided at the far right of the entry for each day, after the data tape number. See the end of this page for a list of operator names.


04-Sep-99						P25220/21  JL/RR
	09:37	General testing.  Creation of scan tables 
		by Wilson.
		Clutter filter is to be "ON" for MAP
	10:45	Vertical pointing.



06-Sep-99						P25222 JL
	09:00	Start. Recording tests for rda2 [radar
		data axquisition (recording) system number 2]
	09:40	VIRAQ syste re-initiated.  Lutz had changed
		config parameters on VIRAQ (cofig.rdr)
	09:50	going to data collection at 800 gates.  TP @ 116 km
	10:05	[Began writing tape.]
	14:42	[Stop]



07-Sep-99						P252xx  DF
	xx:xx	No operations today.  Continued system
		calibration and testing.



09-Sep-99						P25223  DF/RR
	09:38	Started fast clutter scans (6.5 deg/sec); filter "ON"
	09:45	Filter "OFF", slow clutter scans (2.0-3.5 deg el)
	09:53	Filter "OFF", slow clutter scans [had to restart?]
	10:26	Filter "ON", slow clutter scans
	11:13	Done clutter.
		Clear air today.
	11:29	Stopped recording.


13-Sep-99						P25224  ??
	08:00	Vertical, 88-deg scan
	08:50	MAP SUR [surviellance sequence]
	09:10	Vertical
	10:00	West-8 sequence
	13:15	Vertical, 80-deg scan
	15:20	Stop



14-Sep-99						P25225  DF/RR
	08:49	Vertical, 60-deg [for profiler-mode tests]
	09:29	Reset processor to dual-pol, non-full matrix
	09:38	Started clutter scans (CF OFF; full matrix OFF)
	10:15	Back in full-pol-plus mode, clutter filter "ON"
	10:17	Doing operational scan sequences in clear air.
	13:57	Shut down.

	13:40	Noted the following test pulse values (range 116 km):
		  DBZH= 50.86  HDBm= -58.64  Vel= -8.07   PHIDP= 27.72  ZDR= -.99
		  DBZV= 51.74  VDBm= -57.97  RHOHV= 1.00  LDR= .75
			


15-Sep-99						P25226/27  JV/RR/DF/PT
	05:01	Started operations
	20:14	VIRAQ RDA2 had write error when changing tapes.
	21:11	[Continued VIRAQ tape problems?]
16-Sep
	07:38	Changed to vertical pointing
	08:10	back to Surveillance
	10:58	Shut down.



17-Sep-99						P25228/29  JV/SE
	09:15	Start
	09:18	Vert SWR fault.
	09:18	MAP SUR [thru 10:17]
	09:57	Noted the following test pulse values (range 115 km):

		  DBZH= 50.92  HDBM= -58.62  Vel= -8.07  PHIDP= 27.8  ZDR= -.97

	10:17	60-deg VAD
	12:28	Transmit in H only
	12:38	back to switch
	17:50	Changed to high resolution RHIs
	21:00	Changed to sector, 330 to 20 deg
	21:11	Went vertical pointing in light to moderate rainfall
	21:30	Started WEST 12 scans sequence
	22:00	Center WEST 12 seq to 90-deg Az
	22:51	MAP SUR
	23:10	SCAN 12 seq center to 100-deg
	23:50	Had to reset processor



18-Sep-99						P25230  TR/DF
	00:10	Went to MAP SUR scan
	01:20	Went to WEST 12 Az 210-330 for cells approaching SW
	02:20	MAP SUR
	02:30	WEST 12 seq
	06:47	Noted the following test pulse values (range 115 km):

		  DBZH= 50.82  HDBM= -58.73  Vel= -8.07  PHIDP= 27.92  ZDR= -.92

	07:20	Vertical
	07:24	MAP SUR
	08:30	Horizontal only mode
	08:40	H and V tx
	08:50	MAP 12 new
	09:00	MAP SUR
	09:30	WEST 12 seq
	10:10	WEST 8 seq
	10:40	SUR
	10:50	WEST 8
	15:18	Halt



19-Sep-99						P25230-34  JV/SE
	13:50	MAP SUR
		Running WEST 8 sequence with 10-minute MAP SUR at top
		of hour.
20-Sep-99
	22:05	Noted the following test pulse values (range 116.7 km)

		  DBZH= 51     HDBM= -58.7  V= -8.07   PHIDP= 27.95  ZDR= -.93
		  DBZV= 51.69  VDBM= -58.05  LDR= .71  RHOHV= 1.00
21-Sep-99
	10:05	End of data collection.



22-Sep-99						P25235  ??
	09:41	Began profiler scans (60-deg el, 5-deg/sec).
	10:30	Show and tell scans for Bob Serafin.
	13:00	[Done with Serafin scans]
	15:00	Shut down.



23-Sep-99						P25236  DF/JVA
	04:00	Began MAP SUR scan.
	09:40	Had to restart processor.
	13:35	Shut down.



24-Sep-99						P25237  DF
	10:00	Began scans for French aircraft support, sync
		at 0, 20, 40 (20 minute scan sequence).
	13:20	Noted the following test pulse values (range 116.4 km)

		  DBZH= 50.88  HDBM= -58.67  V= -8.07  PHIDP= 27.56  ZDR= -.94
		  DBZV= 51.73  VDBM= -58.04  LDR= .68  RHOHV= 1.00

	15:06	Stop ops.



25-Sep-99						P25238/39  DF/JK
	03:51	Began MAP SUR scans.
	04:30	Synchronized scans to 10 minute (stopped and restarted scan)
	05:30	Changed to WEST 8 sequence, 300 to 60 degrees az
	06:50	Changed to 250-10 deg WEST 8 sequence.
	18:04	Vertical.
	20:09	Reset processor.



26-Sep-99						P25239/40/41 TR/DF/LV
	00:00	Continued operations.  WEST 8 50 minutes, 
		   MAP SUR 10 minutes, top of hour.
	03:12	Noted the following test pulse values (range 116.4 km)

		  DBZH= 50.91  HDBM= -58.62  V= -8.07  PHIDP= 27.65  ZDR= -.92
		  DBZV= 51.72  VDBM= -58.00  LDR= .68  RHOHV= 1.00

	04:30	Changed sector from 270-30 to 250-10.
	06:10	Changed sector back to 270-30 degrees
	09:30	Changed sector to 330-90 degrees to cover possible 
		   NE development.



27-Sep-99						P25241  LV
	06:30	Reset processor.
	08:10	End of operations.



30-Sep-99						P25242  DF/JK
	03:43	Began MAP SUR scans.
	08:15	Went vertical pointing.
	08:30	Back to MAP SUR scans.
	18:33	Stop ops.



02-Oct-99						P25243/44  DF/SE
	20:00	Started MAP SUR scans.
	20:10	Ran WEST 8 sequence from 330-90 degrees.
03-Oct-99	
	07:47	Ran vertical scan (rain stopped just after vert
		   scan started)
	15:18	Changed scan to 330 to 90.
	15:42	Corrected above scan.
	16:00	Changed scan to 300 to 60
	21:04	Ran vertical scan; light rain.
	23:40	End of operations.



12-Oct-99						P25245/46  LV
	xx:xx	[Special Note: new feed/feedhorn installed prior
		to operations.  Using new feed from here out.]
	22:00	Started MAP SUR.
	04:53	Noticed date on radar display was bad.  Possibly 
		  died at day change.
	06:27	Fixed date, offset = 285 days.
		Date changed at 00:00:41 to 12/17/98.
		Zdr bias not adjusted yet.
	11:45	SUR scan at 2-degrees for DOW test.
	12:43	Vertical pointing ending 12:43.  Raised Zdr 
		   by 0.1
	17:42	Shutdown.	



17-Oct-99						P25247/48  JL
	11:02	Start.  Vertical pointing.  Do not use.
		Adjusted Zdr -.1.  This puts it back to where it
		   was before the feed change.  Best-guess;
		   may be off.
	11:37	MAP SUR
	18:15	Restarted Zebra.  Had a tape drive problem;
		switched to top tape drive.
18-Oct-99
	10:20	Stopped for five minutes to check oil.
	13:21	Started sector and RHI  160-280
	14:00	Started sector and RHI  180-300
	14:49	Vertical pointing.
	14:54	End vertical pointing.
	17:21	Go to MAP SUR.



20-Oct-99						P25250/53  JL
	06:01	Started.  Numerous minor problems.
	17:57	Vertical pointing.
	18:54	Vertical pointing.
	20:55	Vertical pointing.
	23:27	Rotary polarization switch dropped-out big time, but
		   recovered.
21-Oct-99
	03:39	West 8, 260-20 sector.
	16:56	Vertical pointing.
22-Oct-99
	05:19	Stop collection.



22-Oct-99						P25254/55  JL
	17:42	Started MAP SUR

23-Oct-99
	07:50	Rotated sector to 30-150, and RHIs
	08:00	Rotated sector to 330-90; removed .5, 1.3, added .7 
	09:20	Rotated sector to 290-50
	12:09	Vertical pointing; not so good.
	16:30	Shutdown.



24-Oct-99						P25256  MS
	06:00	MAP SUR



25-Oct-99						P25257  MS
	06:09	MAP SUR



27-Oct-99						P25258  MS
	09:42	Clear air scans.



30-Oct-99						P25259  JV
	12:56	West 10 started.
	15:33	MAP SUR.



31-Oct-99						P25260  TR/DF
	02:10	Start SUR ops.
	02:20	Restart processor.
	02:12	Noted the following test pulse values (range 116.0 km)

		  DBZH= 50.62  HDBM= -58.94  V= -8.07  PHIDP= 56.97  ZDR= -.78
		  DBZV= 51.29  VDBM= -58.55  LDR= .50  RHOHV= 1.00

	06:42	Stop.



02-Nov-99						P25261-65  MS
	19:13	MAP SUR

03-Nov-99
	09:10	Went vertical pointing mode, light precip.
	15:00	RHI for aircraft.
	16:10	MAP SUR
	19:30	30 min WEST 8.

04-Nov-99
	00:39	2.5 SUR too fast.  No sweep file generated.
		   Changed AZ rate from 8.8 5.5, samples 94 to 130.
	08:02	Vertical pointing; light precip.
	08:09	End vertical.  Had to reset processor.  Restarted
		   30-min WEST 8.
	08:34	Changed RHIs in 30-min WEST 8 to 308-336 with 
		   1-deg step.
	14:00	Restarted tape.  POC not getting sweep files.
	
05-Nov-99
	00:22	Noted the following test pulse values (range 116.4 km)

		  DBZH= 50.67  HDBM= -58.8   V= -8.07  PHIDP= 55.27  ZDR= -.8
		  DBZV= 51.38  VDBM= -58.39  LDR= .55  RHOHV= 1.00
	08:10	Went to MAP SUR
	10:10	End of ops.



05-Nov-99						P25266/67  MS
	19:02	MAP SUR.

06-Nov-99
	09:00	Changed to 30-min WEST 8, 270-30 sector.
	12:40	Went to MAP SUR scan.
*** END-OF-PROJECT ***

PRECIP98 S-Pol Operators
Initials Name
SE Scott Ellis
DF Don Ferraro
JH Jean Hurst
JK Jeff Keeler
JL Jon Lutz
AP Al Phinney
RR Bob Rilling
TR Tim Rucker
MS Mike Strong
PT Peggy Taylor
JVA Joe VanAndel
LV Lou Verstrate
JV Joe Vinson

Document Maintenance: Bob Rilling, / NCAR Atmospheric Technology Division
Created: 18-Dec-1999
Last modified: Sat Dec 18 15:07:36 MDT 1999