Collaborative adaptive sensing of the atmosphere: New radar system for improving analysis and forecasting of surface weather conditions

An Engineering Research Center (for the Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) was formed in the fall of 2003 by the National Science Foundation to develop a dense network of small, low-cost, low-power radars that could collaboratively and adaptively sense the lower atmosphere (0 to 3 km above ground level). Such a network is expected to improve sensing near the ground dramatically through a process called distributive collaborative adaptive sensing. The CASA network is a dynamic, data-driven application system, whereby strategy for scanning is an optimized network solution among competing end-user needs and weather constraints. Decision making is made in real time, with end users providing automated or manual input, or both, to the system. Furthermore, each radar will have dual-polarization capability and signal processing designed to minimize ground clutter contamination. Data collected from the CASA network will be assimilated in real time for use in detection algorithms, numerical weather prediction and transportation models, and output disseminated to a wide array of end users. Because of distinct advantages of such a radar network, significant improvements are expected from the system, in analysis and prediction of surface weather conditions.