Article Type:
Research Article

An FPGA-Based Doppler Processor for a Spaceborne Precipitation Radar

S. L. Durden Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Search for other papers by S. L. Durden in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
M. A. Fischman Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Search for other papers by M. A. Fischman in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
R. A. Johnson Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Search for other papers by R. A. Johnson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
A. J. Chu Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Search for other papers by A. J. Chu in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
M. N. Jourdan Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Search for other papers by M. N. Jourdan in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
S. Tanelli Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Search for other papers by S. Tanelli in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Oct 2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH2086.1
Page(s):
1811–1815
Restricted access

Abstract

Measurement of precipitation Doppler velocity by spaceborne radar is complicated by the large velocity of the satellite platform. Even if successive pulses are well correlated, the velocity measurement may be biased if the precipitation target does not uniformly fill the radar footprint. It has been previously shown that the bias in such situations can be reduced if full spectral processing is used. The authors present a processor based on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology that can be used for spectral processing of data acquired by future spaceborne precipitation radars. The requirements for and design of the Doppler processor are addressed. Simulation and laboratory test results show that the processor can meet real-time constraints while easily fitting in a single FPGA.

Corresponding author address: S. L. Durden, JPL MS 300-243, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109. Email: sdurden@jpl.nasa.gov

Abstract

Measurement of precipitation Doppler velocity by spaceborne radar is complicated by the large velocity of the satellite platform. Even if successive pulses are well correlated, the velocity measurement may be biased if the precipitation target does not uniformly fill the radar footprint. It has been previously shown that the bias in such situations can be reduced if full spectral processing is used. The authors present a processor based on field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology that can be used for spectral processing of data acquired by future spaceborne precipitation radars. The requirements for and design of the Doppler processor are addressed. Simulation and laboratory test results show that the processor can meet real-time constraints while easily fitting in a single FPGA.

Corresponding author address: S. L. Durden, JPL MS 300-243, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109. Email: sdurden@jpl.nasa.gov

Save
Cover Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

  • Amayenc, P., 1993: Proposal for a spaceborne dual-beam rain radar with Doppler capability. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 10:262–276.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ciletti, M. D., 2003: Advanced Digital Design with the Verilog HDL. Prentice-Hall, 982 pp.

  • Doviak, R. J. and Zrnic D. S. , 1993: Doppler Radar and Weather Observations. 2d ed. Academic Press, 562 pp.

  • Durden, S. L., Im E. , Li F. K. , Ricketts W. , Tanner A. , and Wilson W. , 1994: ARMAR: An airborne rain-mapping radar. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 11:727–737.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Fischman, M. A., Berkun A. C. , Chun W. , Im E. , and Andraka R. , 2005: An onboard processor and adaptive scanning controller for the second generation precipitation radar. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., 43:802–812.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ma, Y., 1997: An accurate error analysis model for fast Fourier transform. IEEE Trans. Signal Process., 45:1641–1645.

  • Meneghini, R. and Kozu T. , 1990: Spaceborne Weather Radar. Artech House, 199 pp.

  • Mentor Graphics 2004: ModelSim SE: Advanced simulation and debug datasheet. 3 pp. [Available online at http://www.mentor.com/products/fv/digital_verification/modelsim_se/upload/se.pdf.].

  • Oppenheim, A. V. and Weinstein C. J. , 1972: Effects of finite register length in digital filtering and the fast Fourier transform. Proc. IEEE, 60:957–976.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Singleton, R. C., 1967: A method for computing the fast Fourier transform with auxiliary memory and limited high-speed storage. IEEE Trans. Audio Electroacoust., 15:91–98.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tanelli, S., Im E. , Durden S. L. , Facheris L. , and Guili D. , 2002: The effects of nonuniform beam filling on vertical rainfall velocity measurements with spaceborne Doppler radar. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 19:1019–1034.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tanelli, S., Im E. , Durden S. L. , Facheris L. , Guili D. , and Smith E. A. , 2004: Rainfall Doppler velocity measurements from spaceborne radar: Overcoming NUBF effects. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 21:27–44.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Zrnic, D. S., 1975: Simulation of weatherlike Doppler spectra and signals. J. Appl. Meteor., 14:619–620.

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 248 90 4
PDF Downloads 167 50 2