Doppler Weather Radar - METNET - India Meteorological Department

A.1.1. Future IMD Radar Network plan under modernization
Under IMD modernization, in Phase-I, IMD has procured 12 numbers of S-Band Doppler
Weather Radars (WSR-98D/S) from M/s Metstar Beijing CHINA. Out of these 12 DWRs
presently three DWRs have already been installed and functioning at IGI Airport Palam, New
Delhi, M. C. Hyderabad and M. C. Nagpur and installation for remaining nine DWRs at M. C.
Agartala, Mohanbari, M. C. Patna, M. C. Lucknow, M. O. Patiala, M. C. Bhopal, CDR
Paradeep,, CDR Karaikal, R. M. C. Mumbai, CDR Goa and at CDR Bhuj, besides the above
mentioned DWRs installation IMD is going to Installed two more C-band imported DWRs at M.
C. Jaipur and IMD HQ Mausam Bhawan New Delhi in near future and installation and
commissioning of two indigenous S-band DWRs are also in progress. Further under
modernization phase-II, IMD will be installed 34 or 35 more S-band and C-band radars to
enhance weather radar network for better coverage of all the areas of the country and to improve
weather now-casting and forecasting. .
A.2.A. brief introduction of WSR-98D/S Doppler Weather Radar
The basic WSR-98D/S system mainly consisting following four equipment groups, which are
interconnected to provide the WSR-98D/S operational requirements.
► RDA Group
► RVP8 Group
► RCP8 Group
► IRIS Group
A.2.1. Radar Data Acquisition (RDA) Group. The RDA comprises the Doppler radar and
provides base weather data. The RDA is the Doppler radar subsystem which generates and
radiates RF pulses, then acquires and processes reflected RF signals to obtain base data. The base
data consists of measurements of reflectivity, mean radial velocity, and velocity spectrum width.
Base data is available in digital format for archiving and for onward transmission to the RPG
Group i.e., RVP8 Group. The RDA is a self-contained unit designed for continuous, unattended
operation. The RDA includes the Radar Transmitter, Antenna/Pedestal, Radar Receiver, and
Data Processor Cabinet.
A.2.2. RVP8 Group. The RVP8 Group consists of the RVP8 Digital receiver/signal processor,
which is implemented using an open hardware and software architecture on standard PC
hardware under the Linux operating system as compared to previous processors those were
mainly built on proprietary DSP chips basis, the most innovative aspect of the RVP8 is that it is
implemented on standard PC hardware and software that can be purchased from a wide variety
of sources. The Intel Pentium/PCI approach promises continued improvement in processor
speed, bus bandwidth and the availability of low-cost compatible hardware and peripherals. The
performance of an entry level RVP8 (currently dual 2.4 GHz Pentium processors) is 6 times
faster than the earlier one RVP7 ever produced (with two RVP7/AUX boards).
Besides the open hardware approach, the RVP8 has an open software approach also. The RVP8
runs in the context of the Linux operating system. The code is structured and public API’s are
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