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I just wish we had a weather radar here in central Oregon https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-other-radar-gap-eastern-slopes-of.html https://cliffmass.b

by davidw 7y ago

I just wish we had a weather radar here in central Oregon https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-other-radar-gap-eastern-slopes-of.html https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-other-radar-gap-e...

toomuchtodo 7y ago
How interested are you in getting this done? Below is a link to a phased array demonstrator (SPY-1A) that was dismantled and replaced with a newer version in 2016. Might find out where SPY-1A is sitting (the phased array may have been returned to the US Navy), and since it'll perform both weather and aircraft surveillance, might be easier to sell to stakeholders for the coverage gap. https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/tools/radar/mpar/ https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/tools/radar/mpar/ Alternatively, Roberts Field appears to be a major commercial air hub in central Oregon. You might argue from a safety perspective to your Congressional representatives (perhaps in concert with local air carriers and AOPA) that the airport needs a TDWR station (cost will be ~$4MM-8MM), which could also provide NOAA with the necessary weather surveillance data. Thunderstorms aren’t common on the West Coast though, hence the lack of TDWR stations in West Coast states. If you pursue this route, you'd want to get funds for this into some sort of federal transportation bill, as part of enhancing the safety of the air transportation system. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_Doppler_Weather_Radar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_Doppler_Weather_Radar
- davidw 7y ago
  I've mentioned it to our representative, Greg Walden, in the past, but he doesn't seem interested, which is a pity, because this is the kind of non-partisan stuff that they ought to be getting done for their constituents.
sorenjan 7y ago
Maybe you could use microwave links in the cellular network instead? There's research and development going on in that area. https://www.smhi.se/en/services/professional-services/microweather/ https://www.smhi.se/en/services/professional-services/microw...
- ahje 7y ago
  That's cool! I can imagine that could be an excellent secondary data source for rainfall monitoring.
dgzl 7y ago
Having better weather insights for Smith Rock would be great. Saying hi from the a Monkey!

by davidw 7y ago

toomuchtodo 7y ago

How interested are you in getting this done? Below is a link to a phased array demonstrator (SPY-1A) that was dismantled and replaced with a newer version in 2016. Might find out where SPY-1A is sitting (the phased array may have been returned to the US Navy), and since it'll perform both weather and aircraft surveillance, might be easier to sell to stakeholders for the coverage gap. https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/tools/radar/mpar/ https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/tools/radar/mpar/ Alternatively, Roberts Field appears to be a major commercial air hub in central Oregon. You might argue from a safety perspective to your Congressional representatives (perhaps in concert with local air carriers and AOPA) that the airport needs a TDWR station (cost will be ~$4MM-8MM), which could also provide NOAA with the necessary weather surveillance data. Thunderstorms aren’t common on the West Coast though, hence the lack of TDWR stations in West Coast states. If you pursue this route, you'd want to get funds for this into some sort of federal transportation bill, as part of enhancing the safety of the air transportation system. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_Doppler_Weather_Radar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_Doppler_Weather_Radar

davidw 7y ago
I've mentioned it to our representative, Greg Walden, in the past, but he doesn't seem interested, which is a pity, because this is the kind of non-partisan stuff that they ought to be getting done for their constituents.

sorenjan 7y ago

Maybe you could use microwave links in the cellular network instead? There's research and development going on in that area. https://www.smhi.se/en/services/professional-services/microweather/ https://www.smhi.se/en/services/professional-services/microw...

ahje 7y ago
That's cool! I can imagine that could be an excellent secondary data source for rainfall monitoring.

dgzl 7y ago

Having better weather insights for Smith Rock would be great. Saying hi from the a Monkey!