Vertically pointing radars

Vertically Pointing Radar (VPR) provide height-resolved information about rainfall micro-physical processes directly above a monitoring location. VPR can be used for direct calibration of scanning radars and to account for uncertainties in relating radar measurements to surface rain-rate.

WRNZ is the New Zealand agent for Metek Micro Rain Radars. MRR are suitable for a variety of meteorological, aviation and geological hazard applications.

Monitoring the height of the freezing level ("bright band")
Volcano and avalanche event detection
Estimation of hydrometeor properties
Direct calibration of scanning weather radar

Metek MRR vertically pointing radars

WRNZ currently runs a Metek MRR-PRO in Auckland. The equipment is collecting data to further improve rainfall estimates from scanning radar in the Auckland Region. A description of the work may be found at: Water NZ Conference 2017 "OPERATIONAL USE OF RAIN RADAR IN AUCKLAND"