NEXRAD

The WSR-88D (Weather Surveillance Radar, 1988, Doppler), commonly known as NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar), is a high-resolution S-band Doppler weather radar deployed across the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and South Korea as a network of 158 radar units individually operated by the National Weather Service (NWS), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the United States Air Force (USAF). The NEXRAD network as a whole is supported by the Radar Operations Center (ROC). The WSR-88D detects precipitation and atmospheric movement or wind. It returns data which when processed can be displayed in a mosaic map which shows patterns of precipitation and its movement. The radar system operates in two basic modes, selectable by the operator – a slow-scanning clear-air mode for analyzing air movements when there is little or no activity in the area, and a precipitation mode, with a faster scan for tracking active weather. The WSR-88D has an increased emphasis on automation, including the use of algorithms and automated volume scans.