Doppler Weather Radar Research and Development
ROC Special Project – Study of the Significance and Mitigation of Wind Turbine Clutter for the WSR-88D Network
Funding Type: CIMMS Task III
Objectives
Study the extent, significance, and mitigation of wind turbine clutter
on the WSR-88D radar network; develop advanced signal processing techniques
to reduce the effects of such clutter.
Accomplishments
Graduate student Brad Isom has made significant progress over the last
year. Data collected during March 2006 from the Dodge City, Kansas,
radar (KDDC) were analyzed and a second set of wind turbine clutter
(WTC) data was collected in late November and early December 2006 from
the Great Falls, Montana, radar. Since then, a technique has been developed
that successfully masks the effects of WTC, thereby reducing the level
of contamination in radar-generated products. The algorithm makes use
of a robust nowcasting technique and optimal interpolation. Discussions
are ongoing with the ROC regarding the move to an operational testing
phase. Mr. Isom is currently writing his thesis for the MS in ECE degree
and will defend his thesis in September 2007, but will continue for
a PhD degree showing that this project has helped to excite a student
for continued graduate education.
This project is ongoing.
Publications
Isom, B., R. D. Palmer, G. S. Secrest, R. D. Rhoton, D. Saxion,
J. L. Winslow, J. Reed, T. Crum, and R. Vogt, 2007: Characterization and
mitigation of wind turbine clutter on the WSR-88D network, 33rd
Conf. on Radar Meteorology, Cairns, Australia, Amer. Meteor. Soc.
Vogt, R., T. Crum, R. Reed, J. Snow, R. Palmer, B. Isom, and D. Burgess, 2007: Impacts of wind energy farms on WSR-88D operations and policy considerations. 23rd Conf. on IIPS, San Antonio, TX, Amer. Meteor. Soc.
Vogt, R., T. Crum, R. Reed, M. Paese, J. Snow, and R. Palmer, 2007: Weather radar and wind energy farms - working together for mutual benefit. WINDPOWER 2007 Conference & Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA.
The left panel displays a sector plot of radar reflectivity from KDDC with the precipitation echo contaminated by wind turbine clutter. The nowcasting/interpolation scheme corrected reflectivity are provided in the right panel.