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Proceedings of ERAD (2002): 335–338 c
Copernicus GmbH 2002 ERAD 2002
The new radar data processing software for the German Weather
Radar Network
M. Malkomes1, M. Toussaint1, and T. Mammen2
1GAMIC mbH, 52072 Aachen, Germany
2Deutscher Wetterdienst, TI 23 Messsysteme, 22393 Hamburg, Germany
Abstract. The radar data processing of the German Weather
Radar Network is under way to be modernized by use of
UNIX/LINUX platforms and “state of the art” weather radar
application software. The GAMIC FROG-MURAN appli-
cation suite will be used as new common software platform.
FROG-MURAN is extended by additional features and func-
tionality, custom made for DWD according to project spec-
ifications. The software system is capable to handle het-
erogeneous radar sensors in particular of two different ven-
dors which are currently operational in the DWD network.
FROG-MURAN for the DWD has been designed to inter-
face to existing and future hardware sensor concepts to be
deployed at DWD like digital receivers and dual polariza-
tion. The first software systems will be operational in 2002 at
MOHP and other operational sites. This new DWD weather
radar data system will be the source of high quality data for
a wide range of scientific and operational users in Germany
in the next decade.
1 Introduction: Weather radar at DWD – history and
technical overview
DWD operates16 C-Band weather radars linked together in a
real-time radar network. At the MOHP research office an ad-
ditional Doppler radar is used for validation of new systems
and algorithms before these are deployed to the operation ser-
vice.
1.1 DWD radar network
The weather radar network of DWD was created to measure
the 3-dimensional distribution of hydrometeors in the atmo-
sphere over the German territory with high resolution in time
and space. The weather radar network services the following
users delivering data and products:
Correspondence to: M. Malkomes (malkomes@gamic.com)
–Forecasting (Now-casting) DWD-internal and -external
–Hydro-meteorology and water management
–Numerical weather forecasting (data assimilation, vali-
dation)
–Research and development
–Other weather services
The goal of the weather radar network is to provide data
with the highest quality to all customers The quality of data
is measured according to the following criteria:
–Contents of the product (Parameter, method of compi-
lation and format)
–Accuracy (absolute and relative)
–Availability (space and time, absolute and relative)
1.2 Radar data acquisition
At each radar site volumetric data are acquired and pre-
processed. 2-dimensional “DWD products” are generated
and transmitted to users directly and the central office in Of-
fenbach via AFD on a WAN.
1.3 Current processing systems at radar sites
The pre-processing of the radar sweeps is performed by Sig-
nal Doppler processors, RVP-6 and -7. The preprocessed
ray data are sent to the VAX-VMS based RMV data sys-
tem RMV controls the radar (function modes and antenna
movements) and generates a 3-dimensional data cube vol-
ume to act as the base for 2-dimensional product data genera-
tion. Products are further sent to users via AFD. The existing
VAX-RMV system has come to its final end of use because
the system elements (hardware and software concept) are:
336 M. Malkomes et al.: The new radar data processing software for the German Weather Radar Network
Fig. 1. RADRUM weather radar site system overview
M. Malkomes et al.: The new radar data processing software for the German Weather Radar Network 337
–Difficult and expensive to maintain
–Limited by their low performance compared to cur-
rently available computers
–Limited with respect to new software developments and
processing concepts for weather radar data
1.4 The New RADRUM radar computer and software
The radar data processing of the German Weather Radar Net-
work is currently being modernized by use of UNIX/LINUX-
PC platforms and modern weather radar application soft-
ware.
The GAMIC FROG-MURAN application suite is used as
common software platform. Additionally to the requirements
to appear unchanged and transparent with respect to the ex-
isting DWD radar site interfaces (“RMV-emulation”) FROG-
MURAN has been extended by additional features and func-
tionality, custom made for DWD according to project speci-
fications.
The software system is capable to handle heterogeneous
radar sensors of two different vendors which are currently
operational in the DWD network. FROG-MURAN for the
DWD has been designed to interface to existing and future
hardware sensor concepts at DWD like digital receivers and
dual polarization.
2 Main RADRUM project specifications
Figure 1 shows the main elements of the system elements
installed at each weather radar site:
–C-Band weather radar sensor (Doppler and some non
Doppler radars)
–Test signal generators (ITSG and DTSG) for calibration
and BITE functions
–Radar Signal Doppler Processor – SDP
–RCC – Radar Control Computer
–The RADRUM Radar Computer and FROG-MURAN
software
–Interface to the DWD AFD network
The existing interfaces between the Radar Computer and
other devices had to be maintained in hard- and software
function:
–Interface to the SDP’s–SCSI: control commands to the
SDP and pre-processed data “rays” are communicated
to the FROG-MURAN Radar Computer
–Serial line interface to the RCC: via serial line com-
mands for radar function control and antenna move-
ments are send/received to/from the RCC (Radar Con-
trol Computer). The test signal generator stimuli (ITSG
for radar reflectivity and DTSG for Doppler signals) are
controlled via serial line and RCC. Radar status is moni-
tored by means of BITE (built in test equipment) issuing
status information via serial line.
–LAN interface to AFD: the standard TCP/IP interface to
transfer products and for inter-platform communication
(remote maintenance and supervision).
3 The new RADRUM system – features and advantages
The weather radar site processor for Radar control and gener-
ation of products is replaced by a new application suite based
on UNIX/LINUX. A commercially available and proven
software package FROG MURAN was selected DWD in
2001 which has been adapted to the needs of DWD.
The main reasons of the DWD weather radar operational
management personnel for the migration to a new data pro-
cessing system were the following:
–The new software is intended to be used for the next 10
years.
–Additional future changes in the radar hardware and
new product requirements need to be accommodated.
–Long term operational maintainability and availability
of the software by migration from VMS (proprietary
and outdated) to LINUX (open and non-proprietary)
–Seamless integration of FROG-MURAN with existing
and commonly used weather radar systems
–Change to more precise and flexible data processing al-
gorithm structures (products are directly generated from
polar data) as more powerful platforms are available
–Short response time for realization of customer/user re-
quirements as flexible software configuration and in-
terfaces for post-processing are available in FROG-
MURAN
–Modular software structures easily allow product gener-
ation remotely from radar sites – to be configured in the
future (as fast data communication lines and compres-
sion algorithms are available now)
–Continuous upgrading and maintenance of the DWD
software following the “mainstream-developments” at
GAMIC allows for global software contracting (out-
sourcing)
These features will enhance significantly the DWD data
quality with respect to precision, resolution in time and
space, availability and flexibility. The scientific and oper-
ational bodies mainly in Germany but also in neighboring
countries will profit from this new system at least in the next
decade.
338 M. Malkomes et al.: The new radar data processing software for the German Weather Radar Network
3.1 Data acquisition (FROG RT-MAS – MURAN)
3.1.1 Frog RT
The Frog RT module performs all the functionality needed
by the RC workstation. It is responsible for receiving data
generated by the SDP, processing and then generating the re-
sulting 3-D volume files. It is also responsible for the direct
radar control and antenna movement according to the sched-
uled scans. The Frog RT has the following capabilities:
–Presentation of real-time radar data in the form of PPI,
RHI, A-scope;
–Processing and visualization of radar BITE information;
–Visualization of antenna position: azimuth and eleva-
tion;
–Collection of radar rays from SDP at each antenna an-
gle;
–Generation of 3-D polar volume RAW and BASE data
(UZ, Z, V, W);
–Transmission of 3-D Volume to MAS-PROGEN;
FROG RDC provides local radar maintenance functions
and utilities at radar site.
3.1.2 FROG – MURAN
MURAN provides the communication infrastructure for
product generation, distribution and remote radar control. It
provides the following functions:
–Process and network support for all Frog applications;
–Distribution of templates for scan, product and schedule
definition;
–Product distribution and remote radar control opera-
tions;
–FROG-RadarControl: Network Supervision and Radar-
Control is responsible for displaying the current over-
all status of the system. The GUI’s present the current
state, radar status and BITE information along with the
visualization of the system messages generated at the
site.
3.1.3 Product generation (FROG MAS-PROGEN)
Frog MAS provides full control of the radar, product defini-
tion and data acquisition control at radar site or at the remote
center. MAS’ installation consists of the following functions
with their GUI’s: DEAC, DEPRO, PROGEN:
–DEAC – Definition of acquisition, antenna scan and
SDP parameter definition;
–DEPRO – Definition of production, product algorithm
parameter definition, standard FROG and DWD specific
products
–PROGEN – Generation of products, typically 2-D data
are derived from 3-D polar data
3.2 Product display (COLIBRI II)
Frog VIS, the 2-D visualization is named COLIBRI II, is the
main visualization tool for the weather radar operator. It pro-
vides the following functions:
–2-D product visualization;
–Real-time and playback visualization modes;
–Visualization of stored images based on time/date selec-
tion;
–Product animation by displaying of a series of images;
3.3 Service tools (FROG RT)
The FROG RT maintenance tools are intended to automat-
ically monitor and actively measure the correct function of
the radar locally at site or remotely via a maintenance com-
puter connected anywhere in the WAN. To mention just the
most important functions:
–Control of the ITSG and DTSG for calibration
–Receiver noise measurement
–Antenna motion monitoring
–Antenna position alignment
–BITE message monitoring
–Data flux monitoring
–Process monitoring
–Monitoring of measurements quality
4 First results
As the new FROG MURAN system is currently under test
and validation at MOHP (Hohenpeisenberg observatory).
A comparison of the new data system with the old one
is under way and the conference presentation will comprise
typical weather phenomena recorded with the new FROG
Doppler Weather Radar software compared to RMV.