The Climavision Radar at Texas A&M University marks a significant upgrade in weather monitoring capabilities, replacing the university's legacy Aggie Doppler Radar (ADRAD), which had been in operation since 1973. This state-of-the-art new radar results from a partnership between Climavision, a Louisville-based climate-tech company, and A&M's Department of Atmospheric Sciences. Installed atop the David G. Eller Oceanography and Meteorology (O&M) Building in late June 2024, it was officially unveiled in a dedication ceremony in September 2024.
The Climavision Radar is a 1000W X-band system, offering a higher frequency range (9200–9700 MHz) than the older 1-megawatt S-band ADRAD radar. This upgrade includes an 8-foot antenna housed within a 12-foot radome, a feature absent in the previous system. Its design offers enhanced precision, with a 0.95-degree beamwidth and 32.15-meter gate spacing, though its range is slightly reduced to 60 miles compared to the Aggie Doppler's 90 miles. Significantly, it features dual-polarization technology, capturing both horizontal and vertical data, which is a significant improvement over the previous system's single-polarization, horizontal-only capabilities.
Chris Goode, Climavision CEO, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting, "This collaboration not only enhances comprehensive low-level coverage for the university and College Station area but also offers students a hands-on learning experience with cutting-edge data that will have a real impact on the local community."
This cutting-edge installation strengthens the university's commitment to meteorological innovation, providing students access to advanced radar technology while enhancing education and community safety. The state-of-the-art radar will also address the "radar gap" in Bryan-College Station, improving local severe weather preparedness for the community.
"The new radar will bridge the 'radar gap' in the area, equipping the local community with improved tools to prepare for severe weather," said Dr. R. Saravanan, professor and head of Texas A&M Atmospheric Sciences.
CLIMAVISION RADAR SPECIFICATIONS
- System & Frequency: 1000W X-band system
- Frequency: 9200-9700 MHz
- Antenna: 8 ft antenna
- Radome: 12ft radome
- Range: 60 miles (3D)
- Beamwidth: 0.95 deg
- Gate Spacing: 32.15 m
- Polarization: Dual (Horizontal & Vertical)
- Transmitter Type: Solid-state - the latest sustainable technology in the weather radar industry