System specification for dual polarized low power X-Band weather radars using phased array technology

Almost all Weather services are using parabolic dish antennas together with high power magnetron or klystron transmitters. Meanwhile solid state low power phased array weather radars in dense networks are under discussion that promises even faster 3D scans and more precise near-ground rain rate estimations. This paper describes the determination of the key characteristics for developing such a new low power Phased Array Weather Radar (PAWR) from the system engineering point of view. Equations to evaluate the desired system performance and specifications will be shown. Furthermore, an innovative system concept with a planar active phased array antenna with optimized Limited Field of View (LFoV) subarrays for the reduction of phase/amplitude control units and a unique PN-Gating calibration method introduced with the TerraSAR-X instrument will be presented.