NOAA NEXt-Generation RADar (NEXRAD) Products
This dataset consists of Level III weather radar products collected from Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD) stations located in the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories and at military base sites. NEXRAD is a network of 160 high-resolution Doppler weather radars operated by the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Doppler radars detect atmospheric precipitation and winds, which allow scientists to track and anticipate weather events, such as rain, ice pellets, snow, hail, and tornadoes, as well as some non-weather objects like birds and insects. NEXRAD stations use the Weather Surveillance Radar - 1988, Doppler (WSR-88D) system. This is a 10 cm wavelength (S-Band) radar that operates at a frequency between 2,700 and 3,000 MHz. The radar system operates in two basic modes: a slow-scanning Clear Air Mode (Mode B) for analyzing air movements when there is little or no precipitation activity in the area, and a Precipitation Mode (Mode A) with a faster scan for tracking active weather. The two modes employ nine Volume Coverage Patterns (VCPs) to adequately sample the atmosphere based on weather conditions. A VCP is a series of 360 degree sweeps of the antenna at pre-determined elevation angles and pulse repetition frequencies completed in a specified period of time. The radar scan times 4.5, 5, 6 or 10 minutes depending on the selected VCP. During 2008, the WSR-88D radars were upgraded to produce increased spatial resolution data, called Super Resolution. The earlier Legacy Resolution data provides radar reflectivity at 1.0 degree azimuthal by 1 km range gate resolution to a range of 460 km, and Doppler velocity and spectrum width at 1.0 degree azimuthal by 250 m range gate resolution to a range of 230 km. The upgraded Super Resolution data provides radar reflectivity at 0.5 degree azimuthal by 250 m range gate resolution to a range of 460 km, and Doppler velocity and spectrum width at 0.5 degree azimuthal by 250 m range gate resolution to a range of 300 km. Super resolution makes a compromise of slightly decreased noise reduction for a large gain in resolution. In 2010, the deployment of the Dual Polarization (Dual Pol) capability to NEXRAD sites began with the first operational Dual Pol radar in May 2011. Dual Pol radar capability adds vertical polarization to the previous horizontal radar waves, in order to more accurately discern the return signal. This allows the radar to better distinguish between types of precipitation (e.g., rain, hail and snow), improves rainfall estimates, improves data retrieval in mountainous terrain, and aids in removal of non-weather artifacts. The NEXRAD products are divided in two data processing levels. The lower Level II data are base products at original resolution. Level II data are recorded at all NWS and most USAF and FAA WSR-88D sites. From the Level II quantities, computer processing generates numerous meteorological analysis Level III products. The Level III data consists of reduced resolution, low-bandwidth, base products as well as many derived, post-processed products. Level III products are recorded at most U.S. sites, though non-US sites do not have Level III products. There are over 40 Level III products available from the NCDC. General products for Level III include the base and composite reflectivity, storm relative velocity, vertical integrated liquid, echo tops and VAD wind profile. Precipitation products for Level III include estimated ground accumulated rainfall amounts for one and three hour periods, storm totals, and digital arrays. Estimates are based on reflectivity to rainfall rate (Z-R) relationships. Overlay products for Level III are alphanumeric data that give detailed information on certain parameters for an identified storm cell. These include storm structure, hail index, mesocyclone identification, tornadic vortex signature, and storm tracking information. Radar messages for Level III are sent by the radar site to users in order to know more about the radar status and special product data. NEXRAD data are provided to the NOAA National Climatic Data Center for archiving and dissemination to users. Data coverage varies by station and ranges from May 1992 to 1 day from present. Most stations began observing in the mid-1990s, and most period of records are continuous.
Resources
22 resources available
-
NCEI Dataset Landing Page
TEXT/HTML -
NCEI NEXRAD page
TEXT/HTML -
NCEI Data Search (NEXRAD Level 2)
TEXT/HTML -
NCEI Data Search (NEXRAD Level 3)
TEXT/HTML -
NCEI GIS Map Viewer
TEXT/HTML -
NCEI NEXRAD Data Inventory Search
TEXT/HTML -
NCEI ArcGIS REST Services Directory
TEXT/HTML -
NCEI NEXRAD WMS
TEXT/HTML -
NCEI NEXRAD WFS
TEXT/HTML -
KMZ file for dataset
KML -
NEXRAD Display and Conversion Tools
TEXT/HTML -
NEXRAD WSR-88D Interface Control Documents
TEXT/HTML -
Part A - System Concepts, Responsibilities, and Procedures
PDF -
Part B - Doppler Radar Theory and Meteorology
PDF -
Part C - WSR-88D Products and Algorithms
PDF -
Part D - WSR-88D Unit Description and Operational Applications
PDF -
The WSR-88D and the WSR-88D Operational Support Facility
PLACEHOLDER/VALUE -
History of Operational Use of Weather Radar by U.S. Weather Services. Part I: The Pre-NEXRAD Era
PLACEHOLDER/VALUE -
History of Operational Use of Weather Radar by U.S. Weather Services. Part II: Development of Operational Doppler Weather Radars
PLACEHOLDER/VALUE -
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords
TEXT/HTML -
NEXRAD Level III Landing page
TEXT/HTML -
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
TEXT/HTML
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Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | non-public |
| contactPoint |
{
"fn": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
"@type": "vcard:Contact",
"hasEmail": "mailto:ncei.orders@noaa.gov"
}
|
| describedByType | application/octet-steam |
| description | This dataset consists of Level III weather radar products collected from Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD) stations located in the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories and at military base sites. NEXRAD is a network of 160 high-resolution Doppler weather radars operated by the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Doppler radars detect atmospheric precipitation and winds, which allow scientists to track and anticipate weather events, such as rain, ice pellets, snow, hail, and tornadoes, as well as some non-weather objects like birds and insects. NEXRAD stations use the Weather Surveillance Radar - 1988, Doppler (WSR-88D) system. This is a 10 cm wavelength (S-Band) radar that operates at a frequency between 2,700 and 3,000 MHz. The radar system operates in two basic modes: a slow-scanning Clear Air Mode (Mode B) for analyzing air movements when there is little or no precipitation activity in the area, and a Precipitation Mode (Mode A) with a faster scan for tracking active weather. The two modes employ nine Volume Coverage Patterns (VCPs) to adequately sample the atmosphere based on weather conditions. A VCP is a series of 360 degree sweeps of the antenna at pre-determined elevation angles and pulse repetition frequencies completed in a specified period of time. The radar scan times 4.5, 5, 6 or 10 minutes depending on the selected VCP. During 2008, the WSR-88D radars were upgraded to produce increased spatial resolution data, called Super Resolution. The earlier Legacy Resolution data provides radar reflectivity at 1.0 degree azimuthal by 1 km range gate resolution to a range of 460 km, and Doppler velocity and spectrum width at 1.0 degree azimuthal by 250 m range gate resolution to a range of 230 km. The upgraded Super Resolution data provides radar reflectivity at 0.5 degree azimuthal by 250 m range gate resolution to a range of 460 km, and Doppler velocity and spectrum width at 0.5 degree azimuthal by 250 m range gate resolution to a range of 300 km. Super resolution makes a compromise of slightly decreased noise reduction for a large gain in resolution. In 2010, the deployment of the Dual Polarization (Dual Pol) capability to NEXRAD sites began with the first operational Dual Pol radar in May 2011. Dual Pol radar capability adds vertical polarization to the previous horizontal radar waves, in order to more accurately discern the return signal. This allows the radar to better distinguish between types of precipitation (e.g., rain, hail and snow), improves rainfall estimates, improves data retrieval in mountainous terrain, and aids in removal of non-weather artifacts. The NEXRAD products are divided in two data processing levels. The lower Level II data are base products at original resolution. Level II data are recorded at all NWS and most USAF and FAA WSR-88D sites. From the Level II quantities, computer processing generates numerous meteorological analysis Level III products. The Level III data consists of reduced resolution, low-bandwidth, base products as well as many derived, post-processed products. Level III products are recorded at most U.S. sites, though non-US sites do not have Level III products. There are over 40 Level III products available from the NCDC. General products for Level III include the base and composite reflectivity, storm relative velocity, vertical integrated liquid, echo tops and VAD wind profile. Precipitation products for Level III include estimated ground accumulated rainfall amounts for one and three hour periods, storm totals, and digital arrays. Estimates are based on reflectivity to rainfall rate (Z-R) relationships. Overlay products for Level III are alphanumeric data that give detailed information on certain parameters for an identified storm cell. These include storm structure, hail index, mesocyclone identification, tornadic vortex signature, and storm tracking information. Radar messages for Level III are sent by the radar site to users in order to know more about the radar status and special product data. NEXRAD data are provided to the NOAA National Climatic Data Center for archiving and dissemination to users. Data coverage varies by station and ranges from May 1992 to 1 day from present. Most stations began observing in the mid-1990s, and most period of records are continuous. |
| distribution |
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"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "NCEI GIS Map Viewer",
"accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/radar/",
"mediaType": "text/html",
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"mediaType": "text/html",
"description": "Search for radar data and estimated VCP mode by station ID, location, and date via a text-based interface.",
"describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "NCEI ArcGIS REST Services Directory",
"accessURL": "https://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/cdo/nexrad/MapServer",
"mediaType": "text/html",
"description": "ArcGIS Server REST API for the dataset.",
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{
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"description": "Web Map Service for the dataset.",
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"mediaType": "text/html",
"description": "Web Feature Service for the dataset.",
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},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "KMZ file for dataset",
"format": "KML",
"mediaType": "application/vnd.google-earth.kmz",
"description": "Direct download link for KMZ file.",
"downloadURL": "https://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/kml/nexrad.kmz",
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},
{
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"title": "NEXRAD Display and Conversion Tools",
"accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/radar/radar-display-conversion-tools",
"mediaType": "text/html",
"description": "Information on free visualization, analysis, and decoding tools for the radar data format.",
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},
{
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"title": "NEXRAD WSR-88D Interface Control Documents",
"accessURL": "https://www.roc.noaa.gov/WSR88D/BuildInfo/Files.aspx",
"mediaType": "text/html",
"description": "The Interface Control Documents (ICDs) describe the data format specification for multiple WSR-88D Build Versions.",
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"title": "Part A - System Concepts, Responsibilities, and Procedures",
"format": "PDF",
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"description": "Document includes WSR-88D system concepts, terminology and acronyms.",
"downloadURL": "https://www.ofcm.gov/publications/fmh/FMH11/2016FMH11PTA.pdf",
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"title": "Part B - Doppler Radar Theory and Meteorology",
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"description": "Document provides a background in doppler radar meteorology.",
"downloadURL": "https://www.ofcm.gov/publications/fmh/FMH11/fmh-11B-2005.pdf",
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"title": "Part C - WSR-88D Products and Algorithms",
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"title": "Part D - WSR-88D Unit Description and Operational Applications",
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{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "NEXRAD Level III Landing page",
"accessURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/metadata/geoportal/rest/metadata/item/gov.noaa.ncdc:C00345/html",
"mediaType": "text/html",
"description": "Level-III NEXRAD data are 40+ products generated from NEXRAD Level-II data using computer algorithms at the radar sites and include base and composite reflectivity, precipitation estimates, storm relative velocity, vertical integrated liquid, hail index, tornadic vortex signature, mesocyclone identification, and echo tops along with the dual-polarization measurements of differential reflectivity, correlation coefficient and specific differential phase, hydrometer classification, and melting layer data.",
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|
| identifier | https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/aim/iso/xml/C00682.xml |
| issued | 1992-01-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| keyword |
[
"Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Radar > Doppler Velocity",
"Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Radar > Radar Cross-Section",
"Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Radar > Radar Reflectivity",
"Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Radar > Spectrum Width",
"Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Sensor Characteristics > Viewing Geometry",
"Earth Science > Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Tropical Cyclones > Typhoons",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Tropical Cyclones",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Hurricanes",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Rain Storms",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Weather Events > Tornados",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Upper Level Winds > Boundary Layer Winds",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Upper Level Winds > Wind Speed",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Upper Level Winds > Wind Direction",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Profiles",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Vertical Wind Velocity/Speed",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Wind Shear",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Winds > Wind Dynamics > Convection",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Cloud Liquid Water/Ice",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Convective Clouds/Systems (observed/Analyzed) > Mesoscale Convective Complex",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation > Rain",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Snow",
"Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Solid Precipitation > Hail",
"Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Hydrological Advisories > Floods",
"Earth Science Services > Environmental Advisories > Weather/Climate Advisories > Severe Weather",
"NGDAID39",
"NGDA",
"National Geospatial Data Asset",
"Climate And Weather Theme",
"Continent > North America > United States Of America",
"Continent > Asia > Eastern Asia > South Korea",
"Geographic Region > Mid-Latitude",
"Geographic Region > Northern Hemisphere",
"Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Azores",
"Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Caribbean Sea > Puerto Rico",
"Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Gulf Of Mexico",
"Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Guam",
"Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands",
"Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Kiribati",
"Ocean > Pacific Ocean > North Pacific Ocean > Bering Sea",
"Ocean > Pacific Ocean > North Pacific Ocean > Gulf Of Alaska",
"Ocean > Pacific Ocean > North Pacific Ocean > Okinawa",
"Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > East China Sea",
"Ocean > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Yellow Sea",
"Vertical Location > Boundary Layer",
"Vertical Location > Land Surface",
"Vertical Location > Troposphere",
"In Situ Land-based Platforms > Weather Stations/Networks > Weather Stations",
"Earth Remote Sensing Instruments > Active Remote Sensing > Profilers/Sounders > Radar Sounders > NEXRAD > NEXt Generation RADar",
"Earth Remote Sensing Instruments > Active Remote Sensing > Profilers/Sounders > Radar Sounders > Doppler Radar",
"DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
"DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce"
]
|
| landingPage | https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/metadata/geoportal/rest/metadata/item/gov.noaa.ncdc:C00345/html |
| language |
[]
|
| license | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ |
| modified | 1992-01-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| publisher |
{
"name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
"@type": "org:Organization"
}
|
| references |
[
"https://www.roc.noaa.gov/WSR88D/BuildInfo/Files.aspx",
"https://www.ofcm.gov/publications/fmh/FMH11/2016FMH11PTA.pdf",
"https://www.ofcm.gov/publications/fmh/FMH11/fmh-11B-2005.pdf",
"https://www.ofcm.gov/publications/fmh/FMH11/fmh11partC.pdf",
"https://www.ofcm.gov/publications/fmh/FMH11/FMH11D-2006.pdf",
"https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477%281993%29074%3C1669%3ATWATWO%3E2.0.CO%3B2",
"https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0434%281998%29013%3C0219%3AHOOUOW%3E2.0.CO%3B2",
"https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0434%281998%29013%3C0244%3AHOOUOW%3E2.0.CO%3B2"
]
|
| rights | otherRestrictions |
| spatial | -64.0,11.0,124.0,68.0 |
| temporal | 1992-05-07T00:00:00+00:00/1992-05-07T00:00:00+00:00 |
| title | NOAA NEXt-Generation RADar (NEXRAD) Products |
