Groundbreaking New Weather Radar

This week we are talking with Dr. Robert Palmer, the Executive Director of the Advanced Radar Research Center at the University of Oklahoma, about their new Horus Radar. The Horus Radar combines Dual Polarization and Phased Array technology to provide high quality radar data at a speed never before seen. Current Nexrad radars send out updates very 3-5 minutes, but with the Horus radar we would be able to get radar updates in just a few seconds. #kwtx #weather #noaa #science #stem #oklahoma #tornado #severeweather

[@monomille1]

A lot of negative comments below about the “style” of the interviewee. To me he is refreshing in his focus on info made understandable for those who actually want to understand the content. So much mainstream media “information” is so dumbed down that it is worthless. I liked this delivery from a real person and knowledgeable source. 👍👍👍👍

[@degreesofscience]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cratecruncher4974]

He's a guy I'd trust with a grant.

[@TheMW2informer]

So true, there isn’t any in depth analysis on TV anymore, I used to come home from school and watch modern marvels, or how stuff is made. Now everything seems to be in lamens terms.

[@-108-]

Yeah, whomever has complaints about this is a doofus. This was one of the most watchable and informative videos I've seen in a while. Great stuff.

[@Derangedteddy]

Small-minded people who are threatened by words longer than four letters should not be allowed to throttle the dissemination of information for the sake of sating their comfort and ignorance. It's 2024. Just Google it if you don't understand it.

[@creeper8647]

C'mon, y'all. Cut Dr. Palmer some slack. He's a meteorologist, not Jim Carey.

[@TheOriginalBubster]

going from minutes per frame to frames per minute sounds super cool

[@Inkling777]

Speed of update should be especially useful tracking tornados and giving an earlier warning.

[@tourist6290]

You could predict way faster and even understand storms and storm systems way better because it updates almost in real time and we'd see what actually happens inside the clouds... this would be so good to have indeed.

[@lauriehines9793]

This is the absolute best video I've seen on how NEXRAD works vs Phased Array. Anyone can understand this interview and it's packed with information without "fluff". Great job!

[@degreesofscience]

Wow, thank you!

[@saltysteel3996]

This stuff is cool, but as a radar tech for the last 17 years, this is all old tech that's been used for air traffic control and military uses. We usually ignore and filter out weather with these types of radar, so it'll be cool to see it specifically used for weather monitoring.

[@allen480]

They will get this operational much sooner if this was tied into air defense surveillance network.

[@boxsterman77]

I thought so.

[@Girder3]

The point seems to be that weather radar technology is really behind the current state of the art in other applications. Frankly it surprised me that phased array technology hasn't made its way to weather radar yet.

[@Avendesora]

Y'all use a combined array...?

[@91CavGT5]

This technology can also be utilized in weather modification efforts. NOAA even states it on their site for weather modification reporting.

[@BassBashin]

As an Oklahoma native we needed this along time ago lol

[@slipknottin]

I wondered awhile back why phase array wasn’t in use as weather radar, this explained it. Thanks

[@degreesofscience]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danionthegogogo]

Fabulous interview! As a meteorologist, the interviewer understood the research and formulated questions to allow the professor to speak with a surprising level of complexity. Very well done.

[@wiseoldfool]

I totally concur.

[@jacobsherven4175]

I personally enjoyed Dr. Palmer. Thanks for the info!

[@degreesofscience]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jimbtv]

This will be really big for a pilot's in-cockpit weather knowledge. NEXRAD typically has a 4 to 6 minute lag time which, when skirting a storm cell, can make a big difference in the decision factor. Onboard weather radar is helpful and real time but expensive and temperamental. Data linked near real time phased array weather radar will really aid pilots in negotiating storms and making better decisions in the air.

[@WaterburnerActual]

We've been hearing about Phased Array for decades. I even talked with Gary England about it before he retired, at a Veterans Day program visit he made to our children's school. Even then, he didn't think it would be real soon, but..eventually. Hope to see the integration w/Dual Pol and any other new developments in my lifetime.

[@StringerNews1]

Back when I was an EE undergrad 40 years ago, phased array was old enough that we knew about it and how it worked, with no classification in sight. Even back then, dual polarization was the norm. Sounds to me like the real problem is feature creep, not committing to a design because there's always something new to add. That benefits nobody. Time to put something into production.

[@adeedaas]

The military has been using it for decades at this point

[@Nighthawke70]

The technology has been around since the 1970s but it is HUGE, power-consuming, and not even close to the weather radar it needed to be. Back when the 10cm radar systems were in the infancy, they were getting echos from rain drops. So they started research on it. The military phased array radar SCREENS out the weather. So the developers at NSSL Norman had to start from scratch to program their SPY-1A PAR system to behave like a WSR-88 weather radar, only to be faster, and more accurate. They were successful in making tons of observations and change how weather systems are observed. Now the next generation is to make it vehicle portable and use the new technology the WSR-88 systems currently use. HORUS sounds like it might achieve that.

[@WaterburnerActual]

@@Nighthawke70 Thank you very kindly for your very interesting reply. Would enjoy hearing more about NSSLs SPY achievements and with mobile systems, as it was coincidentally to yesterday, 25MAY24s tornadoes in Oklahoma, where DOW-6 was observed with the tornado near Mutual, OK, heading E, undoubtedly to the area in NE OK where destructive tornados left destruction, and sadly loss of life. Again, thank you, and appreciate you taking the time and providing info that was very interesting in your reply. Take Care and Stay SAFE!

[@Lost-In-Blank]

Really excellent video. You, sadly, in KZbin it is getting difficult to sort out the channels that present genuine science and technology from opportunistic fakers. Good to see a new genuine channel appearing now.

[@degreesofscience]

We are glad you liked it! We try our best to put out weekly interviews that really focus on letting the expert talk about their field of expertise

[@-108-]

Wow. This was the coolest video I've watched on youtube in days. I sure hope they are able to get this operational at scale in as short of a time as possible.

[@degreesofscience]

We are really glad you enjoyed it!

[@cratecruncher4974]

Sounds amazing. I remember phased array was first used as an early warning system for ICBMs coming over from the Soviets. The weather system could prioritize the implementation to those facing the worst threats. I'm sure Tornado Alley has already been mentioned in the comments. Six minutes per frame is a long time to wait when there is a tornado in town.

[@drtrowb]

This is fascinating! My military experience meets with my meteorological interests! I’d never thought I’d see the day where the equipment is integrated. Cool

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

Hopefully, this radar will have a smoother roll out compared to NEXRAD when it is ready for mass deployment.

[@catherinehubbard1167]

There are far too many “radar holes” in coverage, especially in rural areas. This greatly degrades the ability to read a storm’s threat and issue timely, specific warnings. It’s a scandal. Additional weather radar installations are needed to fill these coverage gaps and protect lives.

[@TishaHayes]

It appears that they would need about twenty additional sites to fill most of those gaps in coverage. Some might not be possible in extremely mountainous terrain as there is a great deal of 'shadowing' going on. The way it is now we do end up with dangerous gaps whenever a NEXRAD site goes down. Many media outlets (television stations) have their own radars; A more comprehensive system could benefit all if air traffic, private media and NOAA all entered in to a data sharing arrangement. This would also give the system "frequency diversity" as many systems operate on different portions of the microwave spectrum. (to greater or lesser degrees of resolution). Also the ACARS MADIS data is transmitted continually by aircraft (it includes weather data at altitude). It would be a massive undertaking to integrate all of these data sources.

[@lauriehines9793]

Did you watch the entire video? There is literally a coverage map shown. It is also internationally known. To be the BEST coverage in the world. Re-watch the last 5 minutes.

[@91CavGT5]

NOAA states on their website devoted to weather modification reporting that microwaves used by weather radar installations can in fact be used for weather modification efforts.

[@timbrwolf1121]

I literally called this on the post about the newest upgrade to the doppler in paducah. Was saying the next upgrade will be a phased array system.

[@jacobm2625]

Phased array in Paducah would be crazy

[@mike95826]

The Starlink system also uses Phased Array antenna technology. Starlink has been in constant research on how to make their dishes smaller and improve their performance and reduce their manufacturing costs.

[@gus473]

😂 I knew I would find a comment like this! We were lucky enough to get into the end of the SpaceX Starlink beta test, with the round "Dishy" unit. (New ones are rectangular.) Awesome utility and solid Internet from a tiny phased array, two counties away from Canada! 😎✌️

[@johnarnold893]

@@gus473 Hah, I've had fibre optics at my house for ten years, twenty miles from the US border in the central Kootenays.

[@tombiggs4687]

I've know about phased-array radars for decades, so I was curious to see how Dr. Palmer explained it to a lay audience. Darn well! He didn't dumb it down, but he didn't go deep on the complexities and lose the audience, either.

[@myheadhurts1927]

Phased Array tech has been around for decades. The Aegis class cruisers had PA in the 70's. Even fighter type aircraft had the tech by the time the F111s were in service. (I think, correct me if I am wrong)

[@degreesofscience]

Yes Phased Array technology has been around for a while. What's new with this is merging that technology with dual polarization technology that is used in Nexrad weather radars

[@saltysteel3996]

We use a AZ EL dual pole AESA phased array in Ka band at work to track military style targets. Polarity and GTRI developed the system for us and we program and calibrate it, then perform test for customers. It's used for threat representation that was from the 1980s and is still being used today in certain parts of the world. Lol Also, I did the PAC3 Patriot seeker for years and years. Developed in the early 90s, went into service around 99, still used today as the most advanced intercept air defense missile in the world, 100% combat success rate. It's a miniature Ka band phased array radar that is super high power. Insane for its size. PAC3 is also hypersonic, which we've had that tech since the 70s, so it's nothing new to brag about like some other nations like to do. Lol

[@jimk8520]

It is cool that the tech is now cheap enough to deploy across the country for use with the weather service.

[@FirstDagger]

The Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 Viper Zero was the first fighter aircraft to mount an active phased array radar starting in 2000.

[@johnarnold893]

@@degreesofscience That is what the military uses to track missiles.

[@deetrvl4life875]

Great video! Thank you! Good interview questions. And I think Dr. Palmer did a pretty good job of translating from Technical language to layman's terms! IMO it seems like he enjoyed doing the interview. I subscribed to your channel, by the way.

[@degreesofscience]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for subscribing!

[@bryanwilson8652]

Dual-pol PAR is the future... My team operates a dual-pol rapid scan traditional radar, but it’s small, and fundamentally limited by its maximum scan rate like all other parabolic systems. These PAR updates excite me!

[@irunthe561]

I hope the NWS eventually rolls this out as a national update.

[@johnarnold893]

So this is basically upgrading the weather service to fighter jet tech that has been in use for some time. This system has been used for years to track missiles and is how the Aegis system works on naval warships. Hughes Aircraft Company demonstrated it in 1957.

[@Medevah]

I honestly don’t know if Horus will increase warning times for those plains supercells y’all get in Oklahoma, but the QLCS stuff and embedded supercells we tend to get in Ohio evolve very quickly, sometimes between scans of the 88D radar. Either way, more data equals better forecasting, which will ultimately save lives and mitigate property losses. That’s the real goal here.

[@mli897]

Very nice work. Congrats

[@BoomerNuke-el4fj]

Phenomenal work & I can't wait until the next updated Twizter movie is released.

[@Private-GtngxNMBKvYzXyPq]

This seems like it could be very useful for aviation safety.

[@briebel2684]

Sounds like this would be a pretty big upgrade for tornadoes, where 4 to 5 minutes can make a huge difference in getting warnings out in a timely manner. Personally I don't care to know how big the hail stones are, because I'm going inside either way.

[@mobeus5019]

You might lose the ability to measure debris signature and give radar confirmation. That said, missile defense radars certainly have discrimination capability.

[@Forlong21]

Can we get this like Yesterday. Lives could be saved with this tech.

[@piconick79]

this will be game changing!

[@Landrew0]

Cell towers have been using phased-array antennas for a few years now.

[@jeroenlodder5838]

Navy has them as well

[@RT-qd8yl]

I wish there was more discussion about why there are difficulties in transmitting a dual polarized signal from a phased array in the first place. I also notice he didn't touch on the proposed supplemental X-band radar network that they've been talking about mounting to cell towers.

[@pottawatomie2]

I just wonder if they will archive the vast amount of data collected like they do the present NEXRAD system.

[@lightingnut]

They have been working of Phased Array radar since before 2003. I got to tour the SPC site in the summer of 2003 where they had a full size Phased Array antenna set up and operational. Can't believe they still have not made this the go to radar for the NWS. I hope soon.

[@TheTarrMan]

They need to make that into a sorta dome. (Also I found out recently that optical lenses work on radio waves. I don't know if that's helpful information to any would-be researchers.) Probably only requires a minor tweak to the formula used to calculate the antenna matrix. This is basically using the same concept as SpaceX antennas right? Only theirs is tuned for broadcasting radar signals? This is a brilliant idea, I must say.

[@laserfloyd]

Getting updates down to mere seconds will save lives. The gap between scan updates is way too long when you're in the thick of an evolving storm. Seconds can make all the difference. I hope this is implemented sooner rather than later.

[@TheMadBeagle]

It will be interesting to see if entities like the national weather service switch to systems likes these, how will they serve the data for use. The amount of data generated by level II nexrad radar data is already quite beefy. Each scan is quite a bit of data, but due to the low volume even a modern phone can pull the data pretty easily. Changing that from minutes to seconds will increase the data being push by an order of magnitude. There might have to be more levels of processing to be able to massage the data into manageable amounts for more casual uses cases.

[@banzaiib]

AESA for weather nerds... love it.

[@mrwanderlive]

Im confused by some of the comments... The guest honestly seems lovely!

[@wiseoldfool]

How many people noticed that the framed picture to the right of the blackboard depicts "The eye of Horus"?

[@williamlloyd3769]

Wonder how 3D weather Horus data would look like using an Apple Vision Pro device?

[@peterhagen7258]

Sooo.. just finally employing decades-old technology. I'm hoping that the computers used aren't that old too.

[@michaelogden5958]

Sounds like they need some good old-fashioned interferometry and/or combined signal analysis. Two separate orthogonally phased arrays in close proximity, some super-duper software, and you should come out with new, improved dual-polarized info.

[@bryanst.martin7134]

I watched several years ago as Doppler 9 Radar in Tampa Bay displayed a tornado progressing ENE during the live broadcast. You didn't see a round circular image, but a wedge of obscurity beyond the the image. This could go very far for identification of Tornadoes on and nearing the ground.

[@majorcarlton137]

Im still trying to digest this mans chalkboard calculations. Always the smartest guy in the room.

[@Unb3arablePain]

I was wondering why after 2 decades of experimentation they hadn't gotten phased array as standard yet. The dual-polarization challenges completely explain it. That's not only harder to integrate but wasn't something previous military application phased array radars had to deal with. So while outdated, for weather specific knowledge the current mechanical radars had that vital feature not yet figured out.

[@Trog1odyte]

Sounds like a good upgrade that’s been in the works for a long while. Now that there’s thousands of wind turbines causing massive ground clutter on the 88D’s I’m hoping it comes in before someone gets hurt because the meteorologists can’t see into the wind farm.

[@dontwitness3758]

Pretty wild to me that weather tracking is only just now getting phased array radar. it's tech that's been around for decades now.

[@kleetus92]

What the phased array looks like on a practical element is the Startlink Dishy McDishface.... that's how they talk to the satellites.

[@Oufanforever]

Hi Bob 😀

[@ffxbellini]

Strikes me the current radar systems used for weather are 90 to 95% effective.

[@germanpoweractivated]

Yay science

[@douglasthomson8022]

The implications of adapting and utilizing phased-array radars in weather research and forecasting is mind-boggling. If you could adapt a four-faced planar array to be mobile like the DOW and see severe weather in 360 degree coverage!

[@j0hnny_R3db34rd]

Is there a demo of this technology? Sad there wasn't anything shown in the video.

[@TheMW2informer]

Here is a demo of it from the 2013 El Reno tornado, one of the most amazing radar loops. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPWi3Snqcl2iaMsi=pA7bOmbjrb57X44b

[@superdriver777]

Anyone else catch the Horus symbol in the frame behind him? Haha I like this guy!

[@wiseoldfool]

I just made a similar comment. So at least two of us noticed it and were aware of the significance!

[@DanielSkinnerDETTPKS]

The U S Navy sent Phased Array Radar to O U [Norman, Okla. campus ] back in the 1990's [ South east of Lloyd Noble Center. ] Nice to see Dual Polarization added, for Horus Radar, a truly 21st century Radar!

[@johnsouth3912]

Bet this can also provide some sort of beam weapon effect if necessary.

[@Jimmy-Legs]

Phased array has been used in the military for years and years.

[@GoldenH]

It is impossible to be excited about finally having the budget to get a basement bargin version of something that was commercially available in the 60s but at least he didn't cry

[@91CavGT5]

NOAA mandates reporting for weather modification efforts, and one source of weather modification is with microwaves that weather radar uses.

[@surrealsupercell7217]

Using the f-35 radar for weather, now thats sick 😎

[@joeblow5214]

Didn't the National Weather Center get loaned a SPY-1A back in the 90s?

[@dadthejedi]

Fascinating, but it would have been nice to see some examples.

[@iikon69]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppqsaoN-qaaVgpIsi=6Ma0PUqpFwVS9pBi

[@Lost-In-Blank]

@@iikon69 Thanks for that. Your comment should be pinned at the top, or your link put in the video description.

[@garrettgreen9667]

You can usually tell when someone knows what they're talking about and Dr. Palmer definitely seems to know what he's talking about lol

[@gingerman5123]

His name was Robert Palmer…

[@wiseoldfool]

"Addicted to love"? Different Robert Palmer.

[@gingerman5123]

@@wiseoldfool Thank you, Captain Obvious.

[@jozefsk7456]

cant wait for this to arrive to my country in 100 years lol

[@unmanaged]

What they dont tell you is that yes this tech has been around for a good while, its the military that has restricted its use as it would interfere with the phase array systems that they use for over the horizon radar.

[@chuckfinley3152]

Add SAR and you’ll see everything

[@BartKus]

Phased Arraydar

[@BartKus]

Phased Arradar

[@qanugvabonecollector3945]

ground breaking weather control

[@KoRntech]

I remember when they were already looking at Electrically strered ohased arrays radars in the late 90's for weather seeing as weve been using them since the early 80's in our guided missile ships. Given the cost and rollout I doubt every location in the US would get them, definitely what us currently Tornado alley and the emerging expansion out east into the Ohio Valley as well as the Hurricane,/Tropical storm zones. Given the time 2040 thats barely 15 years from now and we all know funding science in the US is tough given the composition of Congress where some believe somar panels will drain the sun and wind turbines will alter the planets jetstream, but 27 gigatons of CO2 from burning carbon every year is not a big deal.

[@SuperKingcobra33]

We need to be talking about radar weather….

[@TheMW2informer]

There is phased array radar of the 2013 Moore Tornado and IIRC the El Reno EF-3 as well. Edit: here is the phased array radar of the El Reno tornado. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPWi3Snqcl2iaMsi=pA7bOmbjrb57X44b

[@WaterburnerActual]

Thanks for the link. It was like the operators were Targeting/Zeroing on the inflow notch. Would be interesting to see if it was able to identify satellite vortices and their wind speed. So much to digest in meteorology, understanding supercells, and their many characteristics, and meteorologists ability to recognize the likely evolutions, based on experience, especially from field experience, as well as WSR-88D knowledge.

[@KoRntech]

9:00 where is his ESD protection? Ugh!

[@antoineroquentin2297]

Don't airplanes already have phased array weather radar on board?

[@ogbt]

What about scalar waves and their affect on those water droplets?

[@userNULL]

Everyone is upset that Robert Palmer isn't very entertaining, but I'm pretty sure that's a different Robert Palmer 😂

[@Cutter-jx3xj]

U could definitely tell he was totally enthralled in the conversation. Typical professor, 😂😂😂

[@jacobm2625]

He is clearly very interested in the topic. He's just not a super animated person.

[@shiningarmor2838]

If your weather radar is interacting with the ground at all, let alone breaking it, you're probably pointing it the wrong way

[@saltysteel3996]

It's called multipathing, hard to avoid.

[@Jimmy-Legs]

Good luck finding funding to replace all the existing radars.

[@TheTruthPlease100]

What does the name "Horus" mean? Yeah...

[@quinncide]

We can’t see a single example of this new technology? Just a picture of their truck and a bunch of b-roll of storms?

[@TheMW2informer]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPWi3Snqcl2iaM

[@tangopapajuliet9469]

Now integrate Artificial Intelligence.

[@glyn1]

The good old wet finger out the window good set of eyeballs knowing the CLOUDS like they learned you in SCOUTS called a game of chance [ it mite or maybe not rain ] be perpared take a COAT Who needs RADAR

[@crumbopulis]

Nationwide coverage of potentially dangerous storms, not everyone is is a location to lick their finger and look at the clouds. Fucking boomers

[@TheTruthPlease100]

Wow! So... Does that kind of work similar to HAARP?... But for visualization?

[@KoRntech]

I get the interview was drab, these are scientists not entertainers. Thats why we have science communicators who are or were scientists or have degrees of study that enable them to convey the more highly detailed information into something the more uninformed can understand. People like Neil Degrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, Sabine Hossenfelder, Thunderf00t (I like his methods better when debunking techno frauds like Musk), PBS Spacetime with Dr. matt O'Dowd, and PBS Terra Maiya May 🥰

[@BraskHouseConcerts]

Physics Girl would be great when she recovers from Long-term Covid.

[@user-kt2kz5qg4z]

He has an 'eye of Horus' right there on his wall. What's up with the silly story about naming ?

[@degreesofscience]

He answers that question towards the end of the interview

[@FelonyVideos]

You dont need 4 faces, you only need 3. Can someone send me a check for the 25% cost savings I just accomplished? Thanks! 😂

[@saltzmann1]

Swapping out minutes to seconds is not all that critical, but knowing what exactly is coming down is valuable. I think some of these weather reporters should have access to a window due to some of the reports I have heard. LOL.

[@dxcrcxdr6679]

Phased-Array - Directed Energy Modulation

[@CAPEjkg]

They say very smart people aren't the greatest in social situations, this interview confirms that! He seemed the questions were beneath his knowledge level. Definitely needs a spokesperson.

[@BraskHouseConcerts]

Physics Girl would be great if she can recover from Long-term covid.

[@peter5.056]

Aw man..... I hope there's a plan in place to fix all the craters this thing is gonna make. 😱

[@rednekokie]

The degree of boredom exhibited by Dr. Palmer has got to be of the highest order known to mankind in this interview. Which only goes to his evaluation as a professor, IMHO.

[@Lucky9_9]

Your observation is both hysterical and a reasonable heuristic, imo. Thanks for the laugh! 🤣

[@paulowens1715]

I've been following Robert since his early hits like "Doctor doctor", "Addicted to love" and "Simply Irresistible". Bouncing photons off of raindrops might be a bit of a letdown after "Sneakin' Sally through the alley"

[@disbelief3911]

I wonder how often he did the same interview before this one.

[@tireballastserviceofflorid7771]

Seemed pretty rude to me. This guy is giving him honors and letting him show off his new technology. Shouldn't give interviews it is makes him so miserable. Not like it's life saving technology or anything.

[@scottm599]

Not boredom, just absence of hyperbole

[@HARLEYMLM1966]

He seems so put out by having to do the interview.

[@bingdong8571]

Hes just burned out from his 80s life.