Unraveling severe weather
Radars are of great importance in detecting and warning of hazards associated with severe local storms. PHARA technology will reveal how severe weather events (tornadoes, downbursts, microbursts, wind shears, wind gusts) evolve in time, and how the changing atmosphere is affecting our climate and consequently our living environment. The innovative technology allows better understanding on how precipitation forms and of the interactions between cloud microphysics, precipitation and dynamics, with special application to the fast processes in severe weather. Moreover, PHARA will be installed on a transportable platform, enabling measurements at various locations for even better understanding of the impact of the Dutch landscape on clouds and storms formation.
In addition to the expected impact of PHARA on atmospheric sciences, weather forecasting, extreme weather warnings, electromagnetic wave sensing, hydrology and water-management, this new and mobile radar may be suitable for a variety of other applications. Examples are airport surveillance for wind shear and air traffic control, wind turbines and road traffic management, monitoring birds and sea-life. Other scientific fields that could benefit from PHARA are communication science & technology and (satellite) remote sensing science.
Smart Cities
Radars are important to help metropolitan areas cope with more frequent and more intense rainfall events and obtain better long-term records of high-resolution precipitation observations to support climate-smart city planning and water management. Besides, inhabitants and local authorities will benefit from more accurate weather nowcasting (up to 2 hours) with high accuracy. That will help to decrease economic and social losses caused by the weather and may improve the efficiency of transportation services and work done in the open air.
Sustainable Energy
Energy providers may benefit from PHARA by accurately measuring 3D wind behaviour near wind farms and from radar detection and recognition of birds, bats, and insects in the surroundings of wind farms. The instantaneous estimation of the wind state and information about the approaching biomass can be used to design and operate wind farms with the highest efficiency and minimal impact on the wildlife.
Ecology & Environment
The PHARA facility can be used to estimate the numbers and track the migratory movements of insects and birds across the Netherlands. This is relevant for ecological science and may be important for prediction and monitoring of migration and disease. The radar may also be applied for monitoring sea-life.
“PHARA allows us to better understand, monitor, and ultimately predict extreme rainfall events, which will help us improving early warning, crisis management and damage control of pluvial floods.”
REMKO UIJLENHOET
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