Vaisala IRIS User manual

M211319EN-H
RESTRICTED
User Guide
IRIS Radar
IRIS Product and Display

PUBLISHED BY
Vaisala Oyj
Vanha Nurmijärventie 21, FI-01670 Vantaa, Finland
P.O. Box 26, FI-00421 Helsinki, Finland
[phone]
Visit our Internet pages at www.vaisala.com.
© Vaisala 2021
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This product contains software developed by
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delivered to you.

Table of contents
1. About This Document..................................................................................... 11
1.1 Version Information............................................................................................ 11
1.2 Related documents.............................................................................................11
1.3 Documentation conventions.............................................................................12
2. IRIS Product Overview...................................................................................13
3. Configuring IRIS Products............................................................................16
3.1 Configuring Products........................................................................................ 16
3.2 Product Configuration Menu.............................................................................17
3.2.1 Associating Products with Tasks................................................................17
3.2.2 Configuring Map Projections......................................................................19
3.2.3 Product Parameters....................................................................................23
3.2.4 Display Parameters.....................................................................................27
3.3 BASE: Echo Base Product................................................................................ 32
3.4 BEAM: Antenna Beam Pattern Product......................................................... 34
3.5 CAPPI: Constant Altitude Plan Position Indicator.........................................36
3.6 FCAST: Forecast................................................................................................ 37
3.7 HMAX: Height of Maximum Intensity Product.............................................. 40
3.8 LAYER: Layer Average.......................................................................................41
3.9 MAX: Maximum Data with Side Panels.......................................................... 43
3.9.1 Configuring MAX Products........................................................................45
3.10 MLHGT: Melting Level Height.......................................................................... 47
3.10.1 MLHGT Algorithm.......................................................................................49
3.10.2 Configuring MLHGT Products................................................................... 52
3.10.3 Using MLHGT Data Flow with Other Products........................................54
3.11 PPI: Plan Position Indicator..............................................................................55
3.12 RAIN1: Hourly Rain Accumulation...................................................................56
3.12.1 Scheduling RAIN1 Products....................................................................... 57
3.13 RAIN-N: N-Hour Rain Accumulation...............................................................59
3.13.1 Scheduling RAIN-N Products................................................................... 60
3.14 RAW: Raw Data................................................................................................. 62
3.14.1 Configuring RAW products....................................................................... 63
3.14.2 Recording RAW Data Automatically........................................................63
3.15 RHI: Range Height Indicator............................................................................64
3.15.1 RHI Cumulonimbus Example.................................................................... 66
3.15.2 Should I Use RHI or XSECT?...................................................................... 67
3.16 RTI: Range Time Indicator................................................................................68
3.17 SRI: Surface Rainfall Intensity...........................................................................71
3.17.1 SRI Algorithm...............................................................................................71
3.17.2 Input Reflectivity Profiles...........................................................................73
3.17.3 Setting the Current Melting Level Without Restarting IRIS...................75
3.17.4 Configuring SRI........................................................................................... 77
3.17.5 SRI Profile Correction Example.................................................................79
3.17.6 Format of Terrain Map File..........................................................................81
3.17.7 SRI References............................................................................................ 82
3.18 STAT: IRIS System Status................................................................................. 82
3.19 THICK: Echo Thickness Product......................................................................84
3.20 TOPS: Echo Tops............................................................................................... 86
3.21 TRACK: Track/Forecast.................................................................................... 88
3.22 VAD: Velocity Azimuth Display....................................................................... 92
3.23 VIL: Vertically Integrated Liquid......................................................................93
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3.24 VVP: Velocity Volume Processing...................................................................96
3.24.1 Producing VVP Product Output............................................................... 99
3.25 WARN: Warning/Centroid Product................................................................ 99
3.25.1 Configuring WARN Products.................................................................. 104
3.26 WIND: Wind Speed and Direction.................................................................108
3.27 XSECT: Cross Section.......................................................................................110
4. Scheduling Products..................................................................................... 113
4.1 Product Scheduler Menu................................................................................. 113
4.2 Scheduling Products........................................................................................ 114
4.3 Adding a Product to Schedule........................................................................119
4.4 Removing a Product from Schedule.............................................................. 119
4.5 Editing Product Configuration........................................................................ 119
4.6 Stopping Product Generation......................................................................... 119
4.7 Tips for Running Radar Products.................................................................. 120
5. Configuring and Scheduling Optional IRIS Products...................... 121
5.1 CATCH: Subcatchments Precipitation Accumulation...................................121
5.1.1 Configuring CATCH Products...................................................................122
5.1.2 Subcatchment Definition......................................................................... 124
5.1.3 Scheduling CATCH Products....................................................................124
5.1.4 CATCH Algorithm...................................................................................... 125
5.1.5 Displaying CATCH..................................................................................... 126
5.2 COMP: Composite............................................................................................128
5.2.1 Composite Algorithm...............................................................................130
5.2.2 System Manager Preparations for Composites...................................... 131
5.2.3 Configuring COMP.....................................................................................132
5.2.4 WARN Algorithm...................................................................................... 136
5.2.5 COMP Scheduling......................................................................................137
5.3 DWELL Algorithm: Composite in Time.........................................................139
5.3.1 DWELL Algorithm Examples...................................................................140
5.3.2 Applying the DWELL Algorithm to Product Scheduling..................... 143
5.3.3 Configuring DWELL Products with Target Detection Disabled.......... 148
5.3.4 DWELL Target Detection Algorithm........................................................ 151
5.3.5 Target Detection: Input Task and Product Optimization......................153
5.3.6 Configuring DWELL Products with Target Detection Enabled............155
5.3.7 Target Detection: Migratory Bird Examples........................................... 157
5.4 GAGE: Raingage Reports................................................................................165
5.4.1 Displaying GAGE.......................................................................................166
5.5 NDOP : Multiple Doppler.................................................................................167
5.5.1 Input Velocity Corrections....................................................................... 169
5.5.2 Configuring NDOP Products.....................................................................171
5.5.3 NDOP Display and Algorithm.................................................................. 173
5.6 SHEAR: Wind Shear.........................................................................................176
5.6.1 SHEAR Algorithm......................................................................................179
5.6.2 Optimizing SHEAR for Microburst Detection........................................ 182
5.7 SLINE: Shear Line............................................................................................ 188
5.7.1 Shear Line Radar Signatures.................................................................... 191
5.7.2 Shear Line Algorithm................................................................................192
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5.8 SWS: Surface Weather Stations.....................................................................192
5.8.1 Displaying SWS Data................................................................................ 193
5.8.2 SWS Output Options................................................................................ 197
5.8.3 SWS Raw Report.......................................................................................198
5.8.4 Configuring SWS Input.............................................................................199
5.8.5 Feeding In SWS Data................................................................................201
5.8.6 METAR and WMO File Format Examples...............................................201
6. Quick Look Window....................................................................................202
6.1 Overview of Quick Look Window.................................................................202
6.2 Setting-Up and Starting Quick Look Windows.......................................... 203
6.3 QLW Control and Monitoring........................................................................204
6.4 Viewing Products in Quick Look Window...................................................206
6.5 QLW Live Action Tool: Product Generation and Display...........................208
6.6 Changing Window Size and Zoom Level.................................................... 209
6.7 Color Scale Tool............................................................................................... 210
6.7.1 Highlight Tool.............................................................................................213
6.8 Display Options Tool - IRIS Product Output.................................................213
6.9 Display Options Tool - Quick Look Window.................................................219
6.10 Product Overlay Tool..................................................................................... 220
6.11 Animation Tool................................................................................................ 222
6.12 Slide Show Tool............................................................................................... 227
6.13 Cursor Tool...................................................................................................... 229
6.13.1 Selecting and Planting Home Points.....................................................230
6.13.2 Creating Named Home Points (Operators only)................................... 231
6.14 Track/Annotate Tool.......................................................................................232
6.14.1 Creating and Editing a Track.................................................................. 234
6.14.2 Adding and Editing Annotation Text..................................................... 237
6.14.3 Adding and Deleting Tracking and Annotation Icons......................... 238
6.14.4 Tracking Typhoons With the Add Spiral Option...................................238
6.15 Forecast Tool.................................................................................................... 241
6.16 Cross-Section (XSECT) Tool..........................................................................243
6.16.1 Creating a Cross-Section.........................................................................245
6.17 Product Output Options Tool........................................................................247
6.17.1 CAPPI Height Selection Tool...................................................................248
6.17.2 THICK Output Options............................................................................ 248
6.17.3 NDOP Output Options.............................................................................249
6.17.4 VAD Output Options................................................................................249
6.17.5 VVP Output Options: Time-Height......................................................... 251
6.17.6 VVP Output Options: Line Graphs......................................................... 253
6.17.7 WARN Output Options............................................................................256
6.17.8 WIND and FCAST Output Options.........................................................257
6.18 Printing and Exporting Displays................................................................... 258
6.19 QLW Keyboard Commands...........................................................................259
7. Requesting Product Output.................................................................... 260
7.1 Overview of Requesting Product Output....................................................260
7.2 Product Output Devices and Files............................................................... 260
7.3 Accessing the Product Output Menu............................................................ 261
7.3.1 Product Output Filters..............................................................................261
7.3.2 Product Output: Product List................................................................. 264
7.4 Sending a Product to a Device..................................................................... 266
7.5 Flagging a Product.........................................................................................268
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8. Performing Archive Operations............................................................. 269
8.1 Overview of Archive and Retrieve Operations........................................... 269
8.2 Using the Archive Menu.................................................................................269
8.2.1 Archive Control Area.................................................................................271
8.2.2 Archive Log Area......................................................................................274
8.3 Initializing a Tape or Disk for Recording...................................................... 276
8.4 Mounting a Tape or Disk.................................................................................277
8.5 Recording Data............................................................................................... 278
8.6 Creating and Printing a Log.......................................................................... 279
8.6.1 Creating a Tape Log................................................................................. 279
8.6.2 Printing a Tape or Disk Log.....................................................................280
8.7 Retrieving Product Files from an Archive................................................... 280
8.8 Stopping an Archive Operation..................................................................... 281
8.9 Unmounting a Tape or Disk........................................................................... 282
9. Managing Ingest Files.................................................................................283
9.1 Managing Ingest Files.................................................................................... 283
9.2 Tagging and Untagging Ingest Files............................................................ 286
10. Choosing Overlay Files.............................................................................. 287
10.1 Overlay Overview........................................................................................... 287
10.2 Invoking Overlay............................................................................................. 287
10.3 Overlay Header...............................................................................................294
10.4 Assigning an Overlay to a Radar Site...........................................................295
Appendix A: Basic Radar Meteorology................................................... 296
A.1 Introduction to Radar Meteorology............................................................. 296
A.2 Reflectivity.......................................................................................................297
A.3 Geometry.........................................................................................................298
A.4 Problems in Interpreting Radar Images.......................................................299
A.5 Doppler Wind Measurements.......................................................................300
A.6 Clutter Cancellation.......................................................................................300
Appendix B: Radial Velocity Correction..................................................302
B.1 Radial Velocity Correction.............................................................................302
B.1.1 Motion Parameters and Coordinate Transformations......................... 302
B.1.2 Radial Velocity Correction...................................................................... 303
B.1.3 Aircraft Tail Radars.................................................................................. 305
B.1.4 Configuring Radial Velocity Correction................................................ 306
B.1.5 Testing Radial Velocity Correction.........................................................307
B.1.6 In Situ Testing Suggestions.....................................................................307
B.1.7 Velocity Correction Algorithm: INU Example.......................................308
Appendix C: IRIS 3DView.............................................................................310
C.1 IRIS 3DView Overview.................................................................................... 310
C.1.1 IRIS 3DView in System Architecture........................................................ 311
C.1.2 IRIS 3DView System Requirements.........................................................312
C.2 Installing IRIS 3DView..................................................................................... 313
C.3 Getting Started with IRIS 3DView................................................................. 319
C.4 Opening Data Files in IRIS 3DView.............................................................. 320
C.5 Rendering Modes........................................................................................... 320
C.5.1 Surface Rendering................................................................................... 320
C.5.2 Volume Rendering.....................................................................................321
C.6 Managing the IRIS 3D Display....................................................................... 323
C.7 Using the IRIS 3DView Export Tool.............................................................. 324
C.8 Using the Product Information Tool............................................................. 327
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C.9 Using the IRIS 3DView Cursor Tool...............................................................328
C.10 Adjusting IRIS 3DView Screen Settings.......................................................330
C.11 Playing Back Data.......................................................................................... 330
C.12 Managing IRIS 3DView Settings....................................................................332
Appendix D: IRIS TDWR Features.............................................................334
D.1 Items Provided with IRIS/TDWR Option..................................................... 334
D.2 IRIS/TDWR Terminology................................................................................335
D.3 IRIS/TDWR Hardware Configuration Example........................................... 336
D.4 Data Flow for Ribbon Display Generation................................................... 337
D.5 IRIS/TDWR Configuration Summary............................................................338
D.6 IRIS Preparation..............................................................................................338
D.6.1 Configuring Protected Areas (Arenas) for TDWR................................338
D.6.2 Configuring IRIS Tasks and Products for TDWR.................................. 340
D.6.3 Configuring IRIS Product Outputs for TDWR...................................... 340
D.7 Ribbon Displays.............................................................................................. 342
D.7.1 Supported Ribbon Displays....................................................................343
D.7.2 Dale Ribbon Display Hardware Installation.......................................... 343
D.7.3 Dale Ribbon Display General Use.......................................................... 344
D.7.4 IRIS Virtual Ribbon Display.....................................................................346
D.7.5 Configuring Ribbon Display Software................................................... 347
D.7.6 Ribbon Display Testing with tdwr_sim...................................................351
D.7.7 Ribbon Display Alert Messages..............................................................353
D.8 TDWR/LLWAS Integrator and Runways Utility...........................................353
D.8.1 Configuring Integrator and Runways Utility - runways.conf.............. 354
D.8.2 Starting Integrator Utility........................................................................359
D.8.3 Runways Utility........................................................................................ 360
Appendix E: Hydromet Raingage Correction.........................................363
E.1 Hydromet Raingage Correction Overview.................................................. 363
E.2 Hydromet Data Flow for Raingage Correction........................................... 363
E.3 Gage Data File Format...................................................................................366
E.4 Configuring RAIN1 with Raingage Correction............................................ 368
E.5 Algorithm for RAIN1 Gage Calibration.......................................................... 371
E.6 RAIN1 Scheduling with GAGE Product.........................................................372
E.7 Hydromet Raingage References................................................................... 374
Appendix F: Task Configuration Examples............................................. 375
F.1 Task configurations.........................................................................................375
F.1.1 SURVEILLANCE........................................................................................ 375
F.1.2 VOL_A........................................................................................................377
F.1.3 VOL_B........................................................................................................378
F.1.4 WIND......................................................................................................... 379
F.1.5 SUNCAL and ZDRCAL tasks...................................................................380
F.2 Product configurations and scheduler..........................................................381
F.2.1 RAW products........................................................................................... 381
F.2.2 Melting height products.......................................................................... 382
F.2.3 Product Scheduler................................................................................... 383
Index................................................................................................................. 385
Warranty.......................................................................................................... 389
Technical support.......................................................................................... 389
Recycling......................................................................................................... 389
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List of figures
Figure 1 Example of 15-tilt Volume Scan................................................................... 19
Figure 2 Color Legend Format Example...................................................................30
Figure 3 BASE Example Configuration...................................................................... 32
Figure 4 BEAM Example Configuration.....................................................................34
Figure 5 CAPPI Example Configuration.....................................................................36
Figure 6 FCAST Example Configuration....................................................................38
Figure 7 HMAX Configuration Example ...................................................................40
Figure 8 Example of 15-tilt Volume Scan.................................................................. 42
Figure 9 LAYER Configuration Example....................................................................42
Figure 10 Example MAX Display................................................................................... 44
Figure 11 MAX Example Configuration....................................................................... 45
Figure 12 Melting Level Height Detection.................................................................. 48
Figure 13 MLHGT Algorithm Flow Diagram............................................................... 50
Figure 14 MLHGT Configuration Example...................................................................52
Figure 15 MLHGT Data Flow for Use with Other Products.....................................54
Figure 16 PPI Example Configuration.......................................................................... 55
Figure 17 RAIN1 Example Configuration..................................................................... 56
Figure 18 RAIN-N Example Configuration..................................................................59
Figure 19 RAW Example Configuration.......................................................................62
Figure 20 RHI Example Configuration......................................................................... 64
Figure 21 RHI Cumulonimbus Example.......................................................................66
Figure 22 RTI Example Configuration.......................................................................... 68
Figure 23 SRI Reflectivity Profile Example..................................................................72
Figure 24 VVP Reflectivity Profile Example ...............................................................74
Figure 25 SRI Configuration Example.......................................................................... 77
Figure 26 Example Profile Correction against Range...............................................81
Figure 27 THICK Example Configuration.................................................................... 84
Figure 28 TOPS Example Configuration......................................................................86
Figure 29 Example of 15-tilt Volume Scan...................................................................87
Figure 30 TRACK Example Configuration...................................................................88
Figure 31 TRACK with Two Centroids..........................................................................89
Figure 32 VAD Example Configuration........................................................................ 92
Figure 33 VIL Example Configuration.......................................................................... 93
Figure 34 Example of 15-tilt Volume Scan.................................................................. 95
Figure 35 VVP Example Configuration........................................................................ 96
Figure 36 Example of Radial Velocity against Azimuth Display........................... 97
Figure 37 HAIL Warning/Centroid................................................................................101
Figure 38 Example of Warning Situation Display....................................................102
Figure 39 WIND Example Configuration................................................................... 108
Figure 40 XSECT Configuration Example...................................................................110
Figure 41 Cross Section Geometry................................................................................111
Figure 42 Product Scheduler..........................................................................................113
Figure 43 CATCH Example Configuration..................................................................122
Figure 44 CATCH Product Display............................................................................... 126
Figure 45 Example of Composite Projection Geometry........................................128
Figure 46 COMP Configuration Example....................................................................132
Figure 47 Composite Scheduling Example................................................................137
Figure 48 DWELL Schematic Example.......................................................................139
Figure 49 PPI of dBZ at a Single Time......................................................................... 141
Figure 50 DWELL of PPI for the Previous 2 Hours Showing dBZ........................142
Figure 51 Dwell of PPI for the Previous 2 Hours Showing Time (Age)..............143
Figure 52 Background Field for 2-Hour Dwell Showing dBZ...............................146
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Figure 53 DWELL Example Configuration with Target Detection Disabled.....148
Figure 54 Schematic of Target Warning Algorithm................................................ 152
Figure 55 Target Detection Configuration Example............................................... 155
Figure 56 Raingage Product Display.......................................................................... 166
Figure 57 Raingage Datagram......................................................................................167
Figure 58 Dual Doppler Geometry Plan View...........................................................168
Figure 59 NDOP Example Configuration.................................................................... 171
Figure 60 Example NDOP Display................................................................................174
Figure 61 SHEAR Example Configuration..................................................................176
Figure 62 Schematic Examples of Wind Shear........................................................ 178
Figure 63 Radial Shear Algorithm Schematic.......................................................... 180
Figure 64 B-Scan Space (PPI surface)........................................................................ 182
Figure 65 TASK Configuration for Microburst Detection.......................................185
Figure 66 SLINE Example Configuration....................................................................188
Figure 67 Typical Shear Line Example........................................................................189
Figure 68 Example of Radar Data with an Overlay of SWS Station Plots.........193
Figure 69 IRIS Single Station Plot................................................................................ 193
Figure 70 Okta Standard Symbols...............................................................................194
Figure 71 Present Weather (METAR text-to-symbol matching)......................... 195
Figure 72 SWS Pressure Trend Symbols.................................................................... 197
Figure 73 SWS Tool..........................................................................................................198
Figure 74 SWS Raw Report Example..........................................................................199
Figure 75 Example QLW: PPI Reflectivity (480 x 480 window size
with range rings and overlay)................................................................... 202
Figure 76 Quick Look Window.....................................................................................207
Figure 77 Example Live Action Tool for CAPPI....................................................... 208
Figure 78 Color Scale Tool...............................................................................................211
Figure 79 Display Options Menu.................................................................................. 214
Figure 80 Product Overlay Tool.................................................................................... 221
Figure 81 Quick Look Window Animation Tool.......................................................222
Figure 82 Slide Show Tool............................................................................................. 227
Figure 83 Cursor Tool..................................................................................................... 229
Figure 84 Cursor Set/Plant Tool................................................................................... 231
Figure 85 QLW Track/Annotate Tool.......................................................................... 232
Figure 86 Typhoon Track Example..............................................................................239
Figure 87 Forecast Example with a Typhoon...........................................................242
Figure 88 Cross-section with Typhoon Example....................................................244
Figure 89 Cross-Section Range Scale........................................................................245
Figure 90 THICK Output Tool....................................................................................... 248
Figure 91 Example of Velocity Azimuth Display.................................................... 250
Figure 92 VAD Output Tool...........................................................................................250
Figure 93 WARN Output Options............................................................................... 256
Figure 94 Product Output Filters................................................................................. 261
Figure 95 Archive Menu................................................................................................. 270
Figure 96 Archive Control Area.................................................................................... 271
Figure 97 Archive Log Area...........................................................................................274
Figure 98 Ingest Summary Menu................................................................................ 283
Figure 99 Site Overlay Example.................................................................................. 295
Figure 100 Range Bin Geometry................................................................................... 296
Figure 101 dBZ Values for Various Phenomena........................................................298
Figure 102 Beam Height vs. Range...............................................................................299
Figure 103 Typical Spectrum Plot..................................................................................301
Figure 104 Vectors used for Velocity Correction In Earth Coordinates..............304
Figure 105 IRIS 3DView User Interface.......................................................................... 311
Figure 106 IRIS 3DView Data Flow.................................................................................312
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Figure 107 IRIS 3DView Starting View.......................................................................... 319
Figure 108 Example of Surface Rendering.................................................................. 321
Figure 109 Example of Volume Rendering................................................................. 322
Figure 110 IRIS 3D Display.............................................................................................. 323
Figure 111 Export Tool..................................................................................................... 325
Figure 112 IRIS 3DView Background Output Configuration Window.................326
Figure 113 Product Information Tool............................................................................327
Figure 114 Cursor Tool..................................................................................................... 329
Figure 115 IRIS 3DView Animation Toolbar............................................................... 330
Figure 116 IRIS 3DView Settings Window.................................................................. 332
Figure 117 IRIS/TDWR Hardware Configuration Example.....................................336
Figure 118 Data Flow for Generating TDWR Ribbon Display Products..............337
Figure 119 Configuring Protected Areas for TDWR.................................................339
Figure 120 Dale Ribbon Display Installation.............................................................. 344
Figure 121 Dale Ribbon Display Controls................................................................... 344
Figure 122 vribbon Display.............................................................................................346
Figure 123 Ribbon Display Setup Menu...................................................................... 350
Figure 124 TDWR Ribbon Display Alert Messages...................................................353
Figure 125 IRIS/Integrator Communication...............................................................354
Figure 126 RAIN1 Raingage Correction Data Flow...................................................364
Figure 127 SURVEILLANCE task configuration: dual-polarization...................... 376
Figure 128 VOL_A task configuration - dual polarization...................................... 378
Figure 129 VOL_B task configuration - dual polarization...................................... 379
Figure 130 WIND task configuration............................................................................380
Figure 131 SUNCAL and ZDRCAL task configurations............................................ 381
Figure 132 Melting height product configuration.....................................................382
Figure 133 Default Product Scheduler.........................................................................383
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List of tables
Table 1 Document Versions (English)............................................................................11
Table 2 Vaisala Weather Radar documentation..........................................................11
Table 3 IRIS Products.........................................................................................................13
Table 4 Optional IRIS Products....................................................................................... 15
Table 5 Supported Map Projections............................................................................. 20
Table 6 Data Types............................................................................................................ 24
Table 7 Algorithms for Rain Alg.................................................................................... 26
Table 8 Display Units.........................................................................................................28
Table 9 Display Parameter Formats..............................................................................29
Table 10 Default Picture Resolutions...............................................................................31
Table 11 Comparison of RHI and XSECT....................................................................... 67
Table 12 First Guess Monthly Melting Height Values for the Northern
Hemisphere...........................................................................................................74
Table 13 Warning Criteria Examples.............................................................................103
Table 14 System Performance Considerations for Generating Radar
Products...............................................................................................................120
Table 15 Optimizing Scan Task for DWELL Target Detection................................ 153
Table 16 Suggested Input Product Types for Target Warning...............................154
Table 17 Optimizing Input Products for DWELL Target Detection.......................155
Table 18 Mean Velocity Shear Correction....................................................................183
Table 19 METAR Visibility Codes....................................................................................196
Table 20 Cloud Height Codes for SWS......................................................................... 196
Table 21 Standard Product Generation Parameters................................................ 265
Table 22 Overlay Latitude and Longitude Header Commands............................ 294
Table 23 Overlay Map Unit Header Commands........................................................ 294
Table 24 Basic Variables of Ship Motion Sensing..................................................... 302
Table 25 Velocity Correction for Aircraft Tail Radars.............................................. 306
Table 26 Ribbon Display Pin Assignments.................................................................344
Table 27 IRIS Features for Hydrometeorological Applications.............................363
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1. About This Document
1.1 Version Information
This document explains how to use IRIS Radar products.
Table 1 Document Versions (English)
Document Code Date Description
M211319EN-H April 2021 Eighth version. IRIS 9.1.0.
M211319EN-G November
2017
Seventh version.
M211319EN-F May 2017 Sixth version.
1.2 Related documents
Table 2 Vaisala Weather Radar documentation
Document code Name
M211849EN IRIS Focus User Guide
M211850EN IRIS Focus Administrator Guide
M211904EN IRIS Focus Release Notes
M211315EN IRIS and RDA Software Installation Guide
M211318EN IRIS Programming Guide
M211316EN IRIS and RDA Utilities Guide
M211319EN IRIS Product and Display Guide
M211317EN IRIS Radar User Guide
M211452EN IRIS and RDA Dual Polarization User Guide
M211322EN RVP900 Digital Receiver and Signal Processor User Guide
M211320EN Radar Control Processor RCP8 User Guide
Vaisala encourages you to send your comments or corrections to [e-mail].
Chapter 1 – About This Document
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1.3 Documentation conventions
Warning alerts you to a serious hazard. If you do not read and follow
instructions carefully at this point, there is a risk of injury or even death.
WARNING!
Caution warns you of a potential hazard. If you do not read and follow
instructions carefully at this point, the product could be damaged or important data
could be lost.
CAUTION!
Note highlights important information on using the product.
Tip gives information for using the product more eciently.
Lists tools needed to perform the task.
Indicates that you need to take some notes during the task.
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2. IRIS Product Overview
IRIS provides features required for the operation of a weather radar network and distribution
of radar products, including local and remote radar control, signal processing, product
generation, and display.
The following tables provide an overview of the products supported in IRIS. The optional
products require additional licensing.
Table 3 IRIS Products
Product Description
BASE
Echo Base
BASE is used to determine the base of echoes.
BEAM1)
Antenna Beam Pattern
BEAM is a full screen cross-section format image showing range-
averaged intensity in azimuth and elevation coordinates.
BEAM is used during calibration and alignment and to verify antenna
patterns.
CAPPI
Constant Altitude PPI
CAPPI is a horizontal cut at a selected altitude used for surveillance and
severe storm identification.
It is also useful for monitoring the weather at specific flight levels for air
trac applications.
FCAST1)
Forecast
FCAST is an array of direction and intensity vectors used to shift a
current weather display interactively.
GAGE1) The GAGE product stores reports from rain gage sensors for display and
use in product generation. These products are produced using an input
pipe from data sent by a weather station system.
Because GAGE products are not produced from radar data, they do not
need to be configured or scheduled.
HMAX
Height of Maximum Intensity
Product
HMAX displays the height of the maximum data above each output pixel.
This product requires a volume scan.
LAYER1) LAYER can compute layer averages of any polar data types in the ingest
files.
LAYER can also convert to liquid first and compute VIL Density.
When computing VIL Density, the output is in g/m**3.
Lightening IRIS can import lightning data from a dedicated Vaisala lightning
detection network or from the GLD360 Global Lightning Detection
system.
MAX
Maximum Data
MAX shows the maximum data over each pixel as well as the East-West
and North-South maximum projects in side panes.
MLHGT1)
Melting Level Height
MLHGT displays a map of the melting layer altitudes.
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Product Description
PPI
Plan Position Indicator
PPI is a full screen image used primarily for weather surveillance
purposes.
RAIN11)
Hourly Rain Accumulation
RAIN1 is hourly rainfall accumulation.
RAINN1)
N-Hour Rain Accumulation
RAINN is rainfall accumulation of the last Nhours, where Nis selected by
the user.
RAW
Raw Data Product
A RAW data file that contains the raw signal processor output
parameters (Z, ZT, V, W, ZDR, and so on) in polar coordinates.
A RAW file contains all the information collected during a measurement
task. It is compressed so it can be sent over the network to IRIS Analysis.
While RAW data cannot be displayed, it is useful for recording on tape/
disk/DVD or transferring to another IRIS network computer for product
generation.
RTI1)
Range Time Indicator
RTI displays time along the horizontal axis and the vertical axis displays
range from the radar.
Often used for manual scans when observing a fixed target.
RHI1)
Range Height Indicator
RHI is a full screen image showing the detailed cross-sectional structure
of a storm, used for identifying severe storms, hail and bright band.
SRI1)
Surface Rainfall Intensity
SRI provides input for the RAIN1 product to obtain the best possible
estimates of accumulated precipitation even at longer ranges from the
radar.
STAT
Radar System Status
A STAT file contains a report indicating the state of all key components
of the radar software.
THICK
Echo Thickness
THICK shows the thickness of cloud echoes.
THICK is the same as the dierence between the TOPS and BASE values.
The THICK product also computes the average reflectivity in the layer
identified by the selected dBZ Contour.
TOPS
Echo Tops Map
TOPS is a color-coded contour map of the top of a selected dBZ level.
Either Zor ZT can be used as the basis for the estimate.
TRACK1)
Interactive Storm Tracking and
Forecasting
TRACK products show the projected motion for storm features
(centroids) based on a series of input products from dierent times.
TRACK is an overlay product created in the Quick Look Window.
VAD1)
Velocity Azimuth Display
VAD is a display of the mean Doppler velocity at a given range as a
function of the azimuth angle as the radar antenna rotates through an
azimuth scan at a constant elevation.
VIL1)
Vertically Integrated Liquid
VIL is a color-coded map of the estimated depth of water (in mm)
contained in a selectable atmospheric layer. This is an excellent indicator
of severe storms.
Either Zor ZT can be used as the basis for the estimate.
VVP1)
Velocity Volume Processing
VVP provides line graphs or time against height cross-sections of wind
speed, wind direction and divergence against height.
You can select the range of influence and the maximum height.
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Product Description
WARN
Warning/Centroid
WARN is automatic warning and centroid plotting.
Automatic warnings can be set for protected areas and user-selectable
warning criteria.
Output is a warning message and a situation overlay showing the
centroid locations of storm features, such as high VIL or reflectivity.
WIND1)
Wind Speed and Direction
WIND displays wind speed and direction with either wind bards or wind
strings.
You can specify the range and height of the data, and the range and
azimuth spacing of the lines that are displayed.
XSECT
Cross Section
XSECT is a volume scan product that shows the height cross-section
along a user-definable line.
1) On demand product available in IRIS Analysis
Table 4 Optional IRIS Products
Product Description
CATCH 1)
Cross Section
CATCH calculates the precipitation accumulation in subcatchment areas
such as watershed areas.
This product requires the Hydromet option.
COMP
Multi-Radar Site Composite
COMP produces a single composite image of radar data from many radar
sites.
DWELL1)
Composite in Time
DWELL is comprised of a product and composites successive images of
a product in time. Moving targets show a "streak" on the display.
NDOP 1)
Multiple Doppler
NDOP provides a mechanism for including velocity (Doppler) data from
another radar site now enabling the measurement of horizontal wind in
addition to vertical wind.
SHEAR1)
Wind Shear
SHEAR detects wind shear in the atmosphere, allowing the detection of
microbursts, gust fronts, mesocyclones, cold fronts, and atmospheric
waves.
SLINE1)
Shear Line (frontal boundary)
SLINE marks the transition between two air masses on the image.
1) On demand product available in IRIS Analysis
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3. Configuring IRIS Products
3.1 Configuring Products
IRIS Radar products provide information that can be used directly for weather nowcasting
and forecasting. You configure the products in IRIS Radar.
IRIS products can display radar data in many ways. For example:
• The CAPPI product shows the distribution of a radar parameter, such as reflectivity or
spectrum width, at a constant altitude.
• The TOPS product shows a color contour map of the height of a selected reflectivity
surface.
• The RAIN1 and RAINN products show the accumulation of precipitation over selectable
time periods.
• The WARN product checks other IRIS products to determine if there is significant
weather, such as wind shear greater than a threshold amount.
Each product is associated with a configured task. Tasks collect information from signal
processors and store the data on disk in ingest files.
For more information, see IRIS Radar User Guide.
More information
‣QLW Live Action Tool: Product Generation and Display (page 208)
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3.2 Product Configuration Menu
Most Product Configuration menus have the same general format:
Task Summary
Contains information about the task associated with the product.
Map Projection
Specify geographical map projection, if desired.
Product Parameters
Specifies the data, range, and other product-specific options.
Display Parameters
Select your default color scale, which can be overridden at display time.
In case of HClass data types, select the classification method projected in the
product. This cannot be overridden at display time.
1. Select Menus > Product Configuration.
3.2.1 Associating Products with Tasks
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Each product is associated with a task, which provides the ingest data for the product.
TASK Summary information, taken from the associated task, shows the key task
configuration parameters.
When associating a task with a product, the system must consider matched resolution
sampling and constructing volume scans for a product.
1. Select TASK Name to show a list of tasks.
Note that certain product types require dierent types of task associations.
Product Type Description
Running a product
from ingest data
Enter a task name, including wildcard characters.
The question mark (?) matches a single character; the asterisk (*) matches any
string of characters.
Volume scan
product from hybrid
tasks
In the task name section:
• Specify the input tasks with an underscore and single letter.
• Specify the sub-task sux letters in the Sub Task box.
Type a "*" to indicate all subtasks.
• Type individual letters such as ABC, AB, BC, or AC to select which portions of
the hybrid to include.
• Type "–" to indicate a range of letters, for example "A–DF" means ABCD and F.
RAW products Always made from a single task.
You must make a separate RAW product for each sub task.
If you are retrieving RAW data from tape or receiving a RAW product over the
network, there is no task configuration file on your disk. In this case, type the task
name directly in the field, exactly as it appears in the Ingest Summary menu or
the Tape menu.
RHI products Include RHI in RHI task names to distinguish them from PPI scans.
2. To optimize product appearance and system performance, define the matched
resolution sample.
For best results, the range bin spacing and number of bins in the task should match
what is needed for the product. This is called a matched resolution sample. The match
does not need to be exact because IRIS uses interpolation algorithms.
For best performance, match the range bin spacing, number of bins and maximum
range in the task configuration, to the desired pixel resolution, pixel scale and maximum
product range in the product configuration.
For example, if you are making a low resolution product (240 × 240) to a range of
120 km (74.6 mi), and you want a single pixel to represent 1 km (0.6 mi) of data,
configure the task configured with at least 120 range bins spaced 1000 m (3280 ft
10 in) apart.
Note that 170 bins can be displayed to the corners of the product. For a medium
resolution product with 1 km (0.6 mi) bin spacing, the best match is for tasks with 240
to 340 bins spaced 1 km (0.6 mi) apart. Note that IRIS can make products for any range
bin spacing that can be specified in the TASK Configuration menu, for example, 500 m
(1640 ft 5 in) or 250 m (820 ft 3 in) spacings can be used as well.
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