Barbre, B. J.

NASA Technical Reports Server

Investigation of Sampling 
Low-Altitude Wind Profiles for 
Space Vehicle Applications
BJ Barbré
Jacobs ESSSA Group
MSFC Natural Environments
March 2, 2016
Presentation to the Natural Environments Day of Launch Working Group
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160004400 2019-08-31T03:48:11+00:00Z
2Background
• Eastern Range (ER) and Western Range (WR) 915-MHz Doppler Radar Wind 
Profilers (D915s) are aging and their performance has been degrading. 
• MSFC Natural Environments (NE) is investigating if there exists a better 
option to supplement the D50 (i.e., replace the D915s with something else).
• Based on known requirements for NASA’s Space Launch System and for 
MSFC NE climatology development, the following is desired:
 Lowest reliable measurement altitude of at most 300 m.
 Continuous temporal sampling at least once every 5 minutes.
 Vertical sampling interval of at most 150 m.
 Maximum reliable measurement altitude of at least 3 km. *
 Cost efficient.
 Others?
* The new system must consistently reach 3 km to effectively splice with the D50.  Higher 
maximum altitudes (e.g., 10 km) would provide redundant measurements to the D50.
3Current Status
• Examples of Technology advances
 High Altitude Lidar for Atmospheric Sensing
(HALAS)
 National Center for Atmospheric Research 
Modular Profiler Network
(https://www.eol.ucar.edu/node/156).
• Different sources to supplement the D50:  
Tower
D915
D449
D50
Sodar
Lidar
* Max altitudes of Sodar, Lidar, D915, and D449 greatly depend on a variety of factors.
Balloons
• Miss temporal wind change over short (e.g., sub-hourly) time intervals.
• Sample size of archive does not produce a robust climatology.
D915 • Do newer systems perform better than the current systems?
D449
• Good max altitude, altitude interval, and time interval.
• Min altitude is higher than desired.
Lidar
• Highly configurable: Could be used to supplement a D449 / D50 combo, or the D50 alone.
• Need to examine performance in cloudy conditions and feasibility of continuous operation.
Sodar
• Could be used for altitudes below the D449.
• Need to examine for altitude coverage and data availability.
4Forward Work
• Soliciting feedback from the Ranges and launch vehicle programs.
 Understanding requirements.
 Knowledge of instrumentation and costs.
 Timeline for replacing the D915s.
• MSFC NE intends to provide an update at the Autumn 2016 NEDOLWG.
Backup
6Introduction to the D449
• Traditional systems have an 
aperture of ~28 m2.
• Detects signal through Bragg 
Scattering.
 Turbulent fluctuations in the atmosphere 
of scales roughly half the radar’s 
wavelength.
 Wavelengths: D50, 6 m; D449: 0.7 m, 
D915: 0.3 m.
• Signal retrieval traits allow for the 
following versus the D915:
 Greater penetration through the 
atmosphere. 
 Similar minimum reporting altitude. 
• Plot from heritage D449 at Ft. 
Huachuca (near Sierra Vista, AZ).
 Sampling interval of 100 m.
 15-min average wind profiles, updated 
every 5-min.
Image and plot from http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/technology/tars/
7D449 vs D915 Data Availability
• Top plot shows % data availability 
from:
 NOAA Profiler Network (NPN), 
containing 35 D404s and D449s in the 
Central US.
 PLTC2, an individual D449 located in 
Platteville, CO.
 Period of record 2/1/04 - 4/30/04
• NPN low-mode availability is at 
least 90% from ~0.5-6.0 km.
 Overlaps D50 from 2-6 km.
 Redundant measurement capability.
• Bottom plot shows results from the 
same analysis using the KSC D915 
archive.
 Same scale.
 90% data availability from ~0.5-1.5 km.
Top plot from DeTect, Inc.: 2009.  White Paper: Radar Wind Profiler 
Specifications Explained.  Document number 9000190. 
% Data Availability
8The NCAR Modular Profiling Network
• Developers
 National Centers for Atmospheric 
Research (NCAR) / Earth Observing Lab 
(EOL) 
 University of Oklahoma’s Atmospheric 
Radar Research Center (ARRC)
• Modular D449 with multiple module 
configuration options.
 Each module has its own transmitter, 
receiver, and processing unit.
 Arrangements consist of using one,  three, 
or seven modules.  Developers propose to 
use up to 19 modules.
• Modular Profiling Network (MPN) 
includes a mini-Lidar for low-level 
wind data collection.
• Working to improve lowest altitude 
and height resolution (currently 300 m 
and 150 m, respectively).
https://www.eol.ucar.edu/node/156
9Requirements versus System
Balloon D915 D449 Lidar Sodar Other?
Minimum Altitude Yes Yes ? Yes Yes ?
Altitude Interval Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ?
Maximum Altitude Yes ? Yes ? ? ?
Temporal Interval No Yes Yes ? ? ?
Qualitative Cost ? ? ? ? ? ?
Other? ? ? ? ? ? ?


Investigation of Sampling Low-Altitude Wind Profiles for Space Vehicle Applications

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