NASA logoCASEI Logo
NASA | CASEI
Arrow leftBack to Explore

Instrument

W-Band Radar
W-Band Radar

W-band radars are highly sensitive radars used for atmospheric research. They operate around 94-95 GHz, enabling the detection of small water droplets. W-band radars are used for cloud and precipitation studies because they provide more detailed observations than typical weather radars. They can be deployed on research vessels, aircraft, and mobile ground-based platforms.

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Overview

Instrument Details

Radar
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar > Doppler Velocity
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar > Radar Reflectivity
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar
Earth Science > Spectral/engineering > Radar > Spectrum Width
Full Column Profile
Variable
Variable
94-95 GHz
Currently unavailable

Instrument Operation

IPHEx

Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

2014
Southern Appalachians, including portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 47 Data Products
ARESE

Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Enhanced Shortwave Experiment

1995—2000
Southern Great Plains, Southwestern United States
view all deployment dates
2 Deployments
· 1 Data Product
GCPEx

GPM Cold Season Precipitation Experiment

2012
Ontario, Canada and northern portions of the United States (e.g., New York state, the New England area, etc.)
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 44 Data Products
C3VP

Canadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project

2006—2007
Ontario, Canada
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 6 Data Products
FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998
Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska
view all deployment dates
5 Deployments
· 131 Data Products
IMPACTS

Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms

2020—2023
Eastern United States
view all deployment dates
3 Deployments
· 73 Data Products
R/V Glorita

R/V Glorita

1 Campaign · 7 Instruments
MAST

Monterey Area Ship Track

1994
Central California Coast, Pacific Ocean
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products
ATOMIC

Atlantic Tradewind Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Interaction Campaign

2020
Tropical North Atlantic east of Barbados
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 1 Data Product
ATOMIC

Atlantic Tradewind Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Interaction Campaign

2020
Tropical North Atlantic east of Barbados
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 1 Data Product
SUCCESS

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

1996
Central and Western United States
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 1 Data Product
G-II

Gulfstream II

1 Campaign · 13 Instruments
Wakasa Bay Experiment

Wakasa Bay Experiment

2003
Wakasa Bay, Japan, Sea of Japan, Western Pacific Ocean
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products
CalNex

California Research at the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change

2010
California
view all deployment dates
1 Deployment
· 0 Data Products

Data Products

Filter data products from this instrument by specific campaigns, platforms, or formats.

Campaigns
CAMPAIGNS
Platforms
PLATFORMS
Formats
FORMATS
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/GCPEX/WBAND/DATA301External Link
Field Site
http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/LPVEX/WCR/DATA101External Link
10.5067/GPMGV/C3VP/WACR/DATA101External Link
Field Site
netCDF-3
10.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/WBAND/DATA101External Link
Field Site
10.5067/IMPACTS/WBAND/DATA101External Link
Field Site
netCDF