WSR-74
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WSR-74 RADARs are Weather Surveillance Radars designed in 1974. The National Weather Service added them to the existing network of the WSR-57 model to improve forecasts and severe weather warnings.
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[edit] Radar properties
There are two types in the WSR-74 series, which are almost identical except for operating frequency.[1] The WSR-74C (used for local warnings) operates in the C band, and the WSR-74S (used in the national network) operates in the S band (like the WSR-57 and the current WSR-88D). S band frequencies are better suited for long range.
The WSR-74C uses a wavelength of 5.4 cm.[2] It also has a dish diameter of 8 feet, and a maximum range of 579 km (313 nm).
[edit] History
The WSR-57 network was very spread out, with 66 radars to cover the entire country. There was little to no overlap in case one of these vacuum-tube radars went down for maintenance. The WSR-74 was introduced as a "gap filler", as well as an updated radar that, among other things, was transistor-based.[3]
WSR-74C radars were generally local-use radars that didn't operate unless severe weather was expected, while WSR-74S radars were generally used to replace WSR-57 radars in the national weather surveillance network. When a network radar went down, a nearby local radar might have to supply updates like a network radar.[4] Corpus Christi became the first operational site for the WSR-74C on February 1, 1976.
128[5] of the WSR-57 and WSR-74 model radars were spread across the country as the National Weather Service's radar network until the 1990s. They were gradually replaced by the WSR-88D model (Weather Surveillance Radar - 1988, Doppler), constituting the NEXRAD network. The WSR-74 had served the NWS for two decades.
Thirteen WSR-74Cs still have not been decommissioned and, of those, eight remain in active use today. No WSR-74Ss are in the NWS inventory today, having been replaced by the WSR-88D. Some of these radars are in commercial use.
[edit] Radar sites
WSR-74 sites include the following two categories:[6][7]
| WSR-74C Site | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX (ABI) | April 30, 1997 | |
| Akron, OH (CAK) | November 15, 1995 | |
| Albany, NY (ALB) | November 2, 1995 | |
| Alpena, MI (APN) | December 9, 1996 | |
| Atlanta, GA (ATL) On a building between Hartsfield and downtown to this day. |
February 1, 1996 | |
| Augusta, GA (AGS) | July 30, 1996 | |
| Austin, TX (AUS) | Late 1970s | October 13, 1995 |
| Baton Rouge, LA (BTR) | May 14, 1996 | |
| Beckley, WV (BKW) | January 12, 1996 | |
| Billings, MT (BIL) | Mid 1970s | May 30, 1996 |
| Bismarck, ND (BIS) | February 28, 1996 | |
| Burlington, VT (BTV) | January 29, 1998 | |
| Charlotte, NC (CLT) | September 17, 1996 | |
| Chattanooga, TN (CHA) | June 10, 1998 | |
| Cheyenne, WY (CYS) | April 24, 1996 | |
| Cleveland, OH (CLE) | November 15, 1995 | |
| Columbia, MO (COU) | June 19, 1996 | |
| Columbia, SC (CAE) | October 25, 1995 | |
| Columbus, GA (CSG) | April 3, 1996 | |
| Columbus, OH (CMH) | December 1, 1995 | |
| Concordia, KS (CNK) | November 9, 1995 | |
| Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) | February 1, 1976 | March 10, 1997 |
| Duluth, MN (DLH) | 1977 | March 25, 1997 |
| Erie, PA (ERI) | January 15, 2000? | |
| Fort Smith, AR (FSM) | July 7, 1998 | |
| Fort Wayne, IN (FWA) | July 8, 1998 | |
| Goodland, KS (GLD) | October 25, 1995 | |
| Harrisburg, PA (HRC?) | January 12, 1996 | |
| Hartford, CT (BDL) | November 2, 1995 | |
| Houghton Lake, MI (HTL) | December 9, 1996 | |
| Huntsville, AL (HSV) (Doppler capability after July 1991) |
1977. Replaced a WSR-3. |
December 15, 1999? Now the ARMOR radar. |
| Indianapolis, IN (UZK) | February 28, 1996 | |
| Las Vegas, NV (LAS) | September 1, 1995 | |
| Los Angeles, CA (LAX) On top of the Federal Building in Westwood to this day. |
May 15, 1995 | |
| Louisville, KY (SDF) | July 19, 1994 | |
| Lubbock, TX (LBB) | April 3, 1996 | |
| Macon, GA (MCN) | April 3, 1996 | |
| Madison, WI (MSN) At Madison Airport. |
1972 | May 7, 1996 |
| Marquette, MI (MQT) | July 16, 1996 | |
| Meridian, MS (MEI) | December 26, 1996 | |
| Mobile, AL (MOB) | October 12, 1995 | |
| Moline, IL (MLI) | August 30, 1977 | January 19, 1996 |
| Montgomery, AL (MGM) (Doppler capability after 1982) |
June 4, 1996 | |
| Muskegon, MI (MKG) | August 13, 1996 | |
| Norfolk, NE (OFK) | March 25, 1997 | |
| North Platte, NE (LBF) | November 27, 1996 | |
| Omaha, NE (OVN) | 1977 | July 10, 1996 |
| Paducah, KY (PAH) At the Paducah Airport. |
1980s | February 23, 1996 |
| Phoenix, AZ (PHX) | August 15, 1994 | |
| Portland, OR (PDX) | January 30, 1996 | |
| Raleigh, NC (RDU) | December 22, 1995 | |
| Rapid City, SD (RAP) | November 4, 1996 | |
| Rochester, MN (RST) | January 9, 1997 | |
| San Angelo, TX (SJT) | October 1977 | April 22, 1997 |
| Savannah, GA (SAV) | February 11, 1997 | |
| Shreveport, LA (SHV) | June 5, 1996 | |
| Sioux Falls, SD (FSD) | 1976 | October 4, 1996 |
| South Bend, IN (SBN) | July 8, 1998 | |
| Springfield, IL (SPI) | October 16, 1980 | July 30, 1996 |
| Topeka, KS (TOP) | November 2, 1995 | |
| Tucson, AZ (TUS) | March 14, 1996 | |
| Tulsa, OK (TUL) | April 5, 1995 | |
| Tupelo, MS (TUP) | December 6, 1995 | |
| Waco, TX (ACT) | September 13, 1995 | |
| Waterloo, IA (ALO) | January 17, 1997 | |
| Wichita Falls, TX (SPS) | December 26, 1996 | |
| Williston, ND (ISN) | Mid 1970s | Not decommissioned |
| Worcester, MA (ORH) | April 5, 1995 |
| WSR-74S Site | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance, NE (AIA) | January 17, 1997 | |
| Binghamton, NY (BGM) | September 26, 1995 | |
| Charleston, WV (CRW) WSR-74S providing local coverage |
January 12, 1996 | |
| Chatham, MA (CHH) | April 5, 1995 | |
| Detroit, MI (DTW) | Replaced a WSR-57. | November 9, 1995 |
| Fargo, ND (FAR) | November 27, 1996 | |
| Jackson, KY (JKL) WSR-74S providing local coverage |
After 1981 WFO commissioning? | July 1, 1997 |
| Key West, FL (EYW) | 1980. Replaced a WSR-57. |
October 20, 1998 |
| Longview, TX (GGG) | March 14, 1996 | |
| Marseilles, IL (MMO) (Doppler capability) |
November 1, 1974. Replaced a WSR-57 at Chicago. |
January 19, 1996 |
| Memphis, TN (MEG) At East Memphis/Agricenter site |
January 1986. Replaced a WSR-57. |
June 21, 1995 |
| Monett, MO (UMN) | 1970 | February 1, 1996 |
| Patuxent River, MD (NHK) At Patuxent River NAS |
Early 1980s. Replaced a WSR-57 at Washington, DC. |
November 17, 1995 |
| Portland, ME (PWM) | Replaced a WSR-57. | September 13, 1995 |
| San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) WSR-74S providing local coverage |
February 26, 1999 | |
| Volens, VA (VQN) | December 1, 1995 | |
| West Palm Beach, FL (PBI) WSR-74S providing local coverage |
October 13, 1995 |
[edit] See also
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[edit] References
- ^ http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/pub/oprad/sect7.pdf
- ^ Paul Sirvatka. "WSR - Weather Surveillance Radar." Radar. College of DuPage. 4 Apr. 2006 <http://weather.cod.edu/sirvatka/radar.html>.
- ^ Roger C. Whiton, et al. "History of Operational Use of Weather Radar by U.S. Weather Services. Part I: The Pre-NEXRAD Era." Weather and Forecasting: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 219–243. 19 Feb. 1998. American Meteorological Society. 5 Apr. 2006 <http://ams.allenpress.com/amsonline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0434(1998)013%3C0219:HOOUOW%3E2.0.CO%3B2>.
- ^ Stormtrack.org Forum 9498
- ^ http://sysu1.wsicorp.com/unidata/intro.html
- ^ NWS Modernization Committee. "Toward a New National Weather Service - Assessment of NEXRAD Coverage and Associated Weather Services".
- ^ Stormtrack.org Forum 10344
