Attempts in Hungary for Automation of Weather Radar Observations

Summary

In Hungary a weather radar network, equipped with MRL-5 dual-wavelength weather radars has been operated since 1983, based on standardized observing procedures. The manually generated weather radar data are digitized and processed in a common grid system with 20 km resolution on a map of polar-stereographic projection and transmitted by teletype in matrix from to the users.

It has become evident, that great potential of the system remains unutilized if observations are made manually.

An experimental automated system was developed in 1986 with the primarily aim of collecting experiences and providing demonstration. It makes possible real-time onservations in the horizontal and the vertical (PPI, RHI) and at a selectable level of constant altitude (CAPPI) with a resolution of 1×1 or 2×2 km out to the range of 100 km or 200 km.

Experiments with this system has revealed some defficiences. As a consequence of all these a new project started in 1988 for the development of an automated system meeting the sophisticated requirements of radar measurement of precipitation in NE Hungary, in cooperation between the Central Institute for Weather Forecasting and the Upper-Tisza Valley District Authority of the Environment and Water Management.

The new automated weather radar observing and processing system is capable to operate on two wavelengths simultaneosly, using two data processing channels, or alternatively on one of the two channels, while providing multilevel CAPPI-s in real-time and to make various corrections required for correct radar rainfall measurements.