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====== Micro Rain Radar (MRR) ======
//Mentor: [[Marek.Jacob@dwd.de|Marek Jacob]] or [[a.walbroel@uni-koeln.de|Andreas Walbröl]]//

===== Principle =====
The **M**icro **R**ain **R**adar (MRR) is a vertically pointing FM-CW (frequency modulated continuous wave) Doppler radar operating at K-band (24.1 GHz, 12.4 mm wavelength). The emitted radar signal (only 50mW transmitting power) is backscattered by falling hydrometeors (rain, graupel, snow). From the Doppler spectra the radar reflectivity factor (Ze) and the terminal fall velocity distribution can be derived. The range resolution can be varied from 10 to 200m which determines together with the 30 range gates the system's maximum height range of 300-6000 m. In case of rain the Doppler spectra can be used to derive vertical profiles of microphysical rain properties like drop size distribution and rain rate. Recently, the MRR system was also studied for its potential to observe snowfall [[http://www.springerlink.com/content/b2100mqrr7033570/fulltext.pdf|link Kneifel et al. 2011]]. Also an improved MRR algorithm most suitable for snowfall observations has been developed at IGMK [[http://www.atmos-meas-tech-discuss.net/5/4771/2012/|link]] and is also freely available here: [[software:improtoo|IMProToo - Improved Mrr Processing Tool]].


===== Instrument =====
|{{:instruments:mrr:mrr_selhausen.jpg?185|MRR_selhausen}}|{{ :instruments:mrr:mrr_jue.jpg?360 }}|
[[http://www.metek.de/|METEK]] MRR (24.1GHz radar); left: at the [[http://www.tr32.de|TR32]] test site Selhausen; right: at the Research Centre Jülich [[http://www.tr32.de|TR32]]

===== History =====
^  Period  ^  Place  ^  Project  ^
| 03/2012 - today | Research Centre Jülich | [[http://www.tr32.de|TR32]] |
| 04/2008 - 10/2011 | [[http://www.fz-juelich.de/icg/icg-4/index.php?index=500|Selhausen]], Germany | [[http://www.tr32.de|TR32]] |
| 05 - 12/2007 | Heselbach, Blackforest, Germany | COPS |
| 2006 - 2007 | Nangatchori, Benin | [[http://amma-international.org/|AMMA]] |

===== Data =====

[[http://atmos.meteo.uni-koeln.de/~hatpro/dataBrowser/dataBrowser2.html?site=JOYCE&UpperLeft=MRR_AveData&UpperRight=MRR_IMProToo&date=-1|quicklook archive]]

{{http://atmos.meteo.uni-koeln.de/~hatpro/jue/mrr/mrr_improtoo/latest_jue_mrr_improtoo.png?nocache&w=600}}


Data avaiability in terms of files per day for the time in Selhausen

^  year  ^  jan  ^  feb   ^  mar  ^  apr  ^  may  ^  jun  ^  jul  ^  aug  ^  sep  ^  oct  ^  nov  ^  dec  ^ ^   per year  ^\\
^  2008|  |  |  |   26/27\\ = 97%|   30/31\\ = 99%|   30/30\\ =100%|   26/31\\ = 85%|   31/31\\ =100%|   30/30\\ =100%|   30/31\\ = 99%|   30/30\\ =100%|   31/31\\ =100%| |  266/272\\ =   98.1% |\\
^  2009|   31/31\\ =100%|   28/28\\ =100%|   28/31\\ = 90%|   30/30\\ =100%|   31/31\\ =100%|   30/30\\ =100%|   28/31\\ = 90%|    6/31\\ = 20%|   29/30\\ = 96%|   28/31\\ = 90%|   30/30\\ =100%|   31/31\\ =100%| |  330/365\\ =   90.6% |\\
^  2010|   31/31\\ =100%|   28/28\\ =100%|   30/31\\ = 99%|   29/30\\ = 98%|   31/31\\ =100%|   29/30\\ = 99%|   28/31\\ = 91%|   31/31\\ =100%|   27/30\\ = 92%|    6/31\\ = 20%|    8/30\\ = 29%|   30/31\\ = 99%| |  313/365\\ =   85.9% |\\
^  2011|   31/31\\ =100%|   24/28\\ = 87%|   26/31\\ = 86%|   26/30\\ = 86%|    7/31\\ = 23%|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |  115/365\\ =   31.7% |\\


===== Specifications =====
^  Parameter  ^  Specification  ^ 
| Frequency | 24.1 GHz |
| Wavel | 12.4 mm |
| Radar Type | FM-CW |
| Transmit Power | 50 mW |
| Receiver | Single Polarization |
| Power consumption (radar) | 25 W |
| Total power cons. incl heating | 525 W |
| Max. range | 6 km |
| Range Resolution | 10-200 m | 
| No. of range gates | 30 |
| Temporal resolution | 10 s |
| Antenna diameter | 0.5 m |
| Beam width (2-way, 6 dB) | 1.5° |