220
Integrated
Filter Bank Radiometer for Profiling Low Concentrations of Atmospheric Water
Vapor--Radiometrics
Corporation, 2840 Wilderness Place, Unit G, Boulder, CO
80301-5414; 303-449-9192
Dr.
Frederick Solheim, Principal Investigator, solheim@radiometrics.com
Dr.
Randolph Ware,
Business Official, ware@radiometrics.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG03-02ER83447
Amount:
$99,879
Current
microwave radiometer designs are inadequate for measuring low atmospheric water
vapor concentrations crucial to global climate research. This
project will develop a new design that will provide reliable and accurate
measurements of low water vapor concentration and will also reduce microwave
radiometer size, power consumption, and cost.
Mass production electronic techniques and monolithic microwave integrated
circuit (MMIC) technology will be implemented in a modular design. Phase
I will determine an optimum modular filter bank MMIC radiometer design. Filter
performance will be modeled and improved, and the effect of filter
characteristics upon spectral sampling will be determined. Prototype
filter modules, including amplifiers and detectors, will be modeled, designed,
constructed, and tested. Various approaches to radiometer calibration will
be explored.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: National weather services are evaluating the use of radiometric profilers for operational forecasting. Radiometric profiler observations could also be used to improve chemical, biological, and nuclear dispersion forecasting; to improve long-range artillery accuracy; and for detection of radar ducting and aircraft icing conditions. Radiometers also could be used for the detection of buried objects.