FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a meteorological apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Meteorological apparatus are known. Typically, such apparatus obtain information on meteorological events and conditions. Although such apparatus enable meteorological data to be collected, these apparatus have their limitations.

Accordingly, it is desired to provide an improved meteorological apparatus. SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided a meteorological apparatus, comprising: a weather radar having a weather radar antenna; a wind profiler having a wind profiler antenna separate to the weather radar antenna; and a coupler collocating the weather radar antenna with the wind profiler antenna in a spatial relationship.

The first aspect recognises that a problem with existing weather radars and wind profilers is that their operation may interfere with each other both functionally and physically by interfering with the horizon of each other, causing blockage and clutter. To avoid such interference, it is typical to locate the two instruments at different sites in order to prevent such interference and enable independent operation. However, this leads to a lack of synergy between the collected precipitation and wind speed data and requires additional observation sites to be located onto which the instruments can be placed, together with attendant increases in land costs and the costs of supplying infrastructure to each of the sites. If the two instruments are located on the same site in order to provide synergy between the data collected by these instruments, the operation of one of the instruments will typically need to be interrupted in order to enable the other to perform its measurements.

Accordingly, a meteorological apparatus is provided. The apparatus may comprise a weather radar having a weather radar antenna. The apparatus may also comprise a wind profiler having a wind profiler antenna which is separate to the weather radar antenna. A coupler may be provided which co-locates the weather radar antenna and the wind profiler antenna in a particular spatial arrangement. Providing a separate weather radar antenna and a wind profiler antenna enables independent operation of both antennas and avoids the problem encountered by single antenna devices which need to share the antenna between providing the functions of the weather radar and the wind profiler. Also, by providing individual antennas, each of these antennas may be optimized for their particular operations, which avoids the performance degradation that may otherwise be experienced by using a single antenna with dual feeds. Providing a coupling which locates the weather radar antenna next to the wind profiler antenna enables both antennas to be positioned with respect to each other to avoid interfering with each other. The coupling also enables the antennas to be positioned such that both are orientated optimally and enables both antennas to be moved together. In this way, synergistic data may be collected from a single location concurrently without causing interference between the two instruments, which reduces the number of observation sites required and reduces the cost and complexity of the supporting infrastructure. In particular such an arrangement provides for significant logistical simplifications and reduces complexity compared to the deployment of separate weather radar and wind profiler apparatus. The integration of the two devices into a single apparatus provides for simplification of the hardware and a reduction in the number and/or the size of observing sights. By collocating the wind profiler and weather radar, other components and sub systems may be shared and reused. For example, the digital receiver, built-in test equipment, slip rings and data processor may be shared by both the weather radar and the wind profiler which provides for significant simplification.

In one embodiment, the coupler collocates the weather radar antenna in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to the wind profiler antenna. Accordingly, the two antennas may be fixed together in a fixed relationship. In one embodiment, the coupler provides a fixed offset in elevation between the weather radar antenna and the wind profiler antenna. Accordingly, a fixed elevational offset may be provided between the two antennas. Hence, adjusting the elevation of one antenna may likewise adjust the elevation of the other. In one embodiment, the coupler is adjustable to collocate the weather radar antenna in a variable spatial relationship with respect to the wind profiler antenna. Accordingly, the offset between the two antennas may be adjustable in either elevation or azimuth or both in order to accommodate spatial changes between the two antennas. In one embodiment, the coupler provides a variable offset in elevation between the weather radar antenna and the wind profiler antenna.

In one embodiment, the weather radar antenna is orientatable at a first elevation and the wind profiler antenna is orientatable at a second elevation and the coupler is adjustable to vary the offset in elevation between the weather radar antenna and the wind profiler antenna in response to a change in one of the first elevation and the second elevation to maintain another of the first elevation and the second elevation. Accordingly, any changes in the elevation of one antenna may be accommodated by the coupler to ensure that no change in elevation occurs in the other antenna.

In one embodiment, the coupler orientates the weather radar antenna generally orthogonally with respect to the wind profiler antenna. Accordingly, the antennas may be orientated in generally orthogonal directions. That is to say, the relative viewing directions of the two antennas are separated by at least an orthogonal component such that the viewing paths of the two antennas are non-parallel.

In one embodiment, the meteorological apparatus comprises a common pedestal configured to support both the weather radar antenna and the wind profiler antenna. Providing a common pedestal enables the two antennas to be co-located on a single apparatus which simplifies the configuration and control of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the meteorological apparatus comprises a first common turning gear configured to provide azimuth rotation to both the weather radar antenna and the wind profiler antenna. Accordingly, the same turning gear may control the azimuth of both antennas which simplifies the configuration and control of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the meteorological apparatus comprises a second common turning gear configured to provide elevation rotation to both the weather radar antenna and the wind profiler antenna. Accordingly, the common turning gear may control the elevation of both antenna which simplifies the configuration and control of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the meteorological apparatus comprises a weather radar transmission system and a separate wind profiler transmission system. Accordingly, separate transmission systems, each optimized for each antenna, may be used to ensure optimal performance of the weather radar and the wind profiler.

In one embodiment, the meteorological apparatus comprises a common reception system coupled with both the weather radar antenna and the wind profiler antenna. Accordingly, the reception system may be shared by both the weather radar and the wind profiler in order to reduce cost and complexity of the apparatus.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Where an apparatus feature is described as being operable to provide a function, it will be appreciated that this includes an apparatus feature which provides that function or which is adapted or configured to provide that function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a meteorological apparatus according to one embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OVERVIEW

Before discussing embodiments in any more detail, first an overview will be provided. An meteorological apparatus is provided that is an adaptation to a weather radar (such as those which, for example, operate in the X, C or S bands) to incorporate a wind profiler (such as those that operate in the UHF or L band). Such an arrangement provides wind profiles on a continuous basis without interruption to the normal operation of the weather radar.

In particular, the apparatus employs a separate wind profiler antenna which is connected to the weather radar antenna. The two are mounted together with a generally orthogonal configuration with respect to each other and share a common pedestal and turning gear. The configuration is such that the two antennas face away from each other and, preferably, face in opposite directions, but not necessarily at 180° with respect to each other. Such an arrangement provides for significant logistical simplifications and reduces complexity compared to the deployment of separate weather radar and wind profiler apparatus.

The integration of the two devices into a single apparatus provides for simplification of the hardware and a reduction in the number and/or the size of observing sights. In addition, the proximity of the wind profiler to the weather radar provides for improved knowledge of the atmospheric state due to the synergy between the different measured parameters.

Providing separate antennas avoids the need to reuse a single antenna with a dual feed (such as a dual microwave waveguide) which may otherwise result in suboptimal feed and reception performance. By integrating the wind profiler and weather radar on the same pedestal, other components and sub systems may be shared and reused. For example, the digital receiver, built-in test equipment, slip rings and data processor may be shared by both the weather radar and the wind profiler which provides for significant simplification. Example Arrangement

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the meteorological apparatus according to one embodiment. The apparatus comprises a weather radar antenna 20. The weather radar antenna is coupled with a feed 30 (such as a waveguide) and will typically perform transmissions in the X, C or S bands. The meteorological apparatus 10 also comprises a wind profiler parabolic antenna 40. The wind profiler parabolic antenna 40 is coupled with a separate feed 50 and performs transmissions in the UHF or L bands (wind profilers typically operate at lower frequencies and lower powers than a weather radar and so may utilise coaxial cables rather than a waveguide as its feed 50). The separate transmission systems (not shown) coupled with the feeds 30, 50 will typically be housed within a pedestal 70. The reception systems (housed) may be located behind the antennas 20, 40 or provided within the pedestal 70.

The weather radar antenna 20 and feed 30 is coupled with the wind profiler antenna 40 and feed 50 at a coupling 60. The coupling 60 is coupled with the pedestal 70 which incorporates turning gear for scanning in elevation and azimuth. The coupling is arranged to provide an angle offset 9 _off between the weather radar antenna 20 and the wind profiler antenna 40.

The weather radar antenna 20 typically executes a series of PPI scans at angles of up to a few degrees above the horizontal (referred to as elevation) for rainfall measurements (typically in the range of 0° to 5°) and at angles of up to around 10° for Doppler wind measurements. This elevation with respect to the horizon is referred to as Q^.

UHF or L band wind profilers typically make a sequence of measurements with their parabolic antenna 40 at angles offset from the vertical (referred to as the zenith) to determine wind speeds (typically at angles within 5 to 20° of zenith). This elevation with respect to zenith is referred to as

In this example, the coupling 60 is a fixed coupling arranged to ensure that the angle offset between the axes of the weather radar antenna 20 and the wind profiler parabolic antenna 40 is selected to optimize the combined performance and sampling characteristics of the two instruments. For example, if the optimum elevation angle θ„ _ρ for the scanning of the wind profiler parabolic antenna 40 is at or close to 10° from zenith and the optimum elevation angle for the weather radar antenna 20 measurements was found to be at or close to 1°, then the angle 9 _off between the two axes of the two antennas 20, 40 is selected to be 79° (in which case the antennas 20, 40 will point in the same direction). Alternatively, it will be appreciated that it would be possible to also fix the angle 9 _off at 99° (in which case the antennas 20, 40 will point in away from each other). In this way, when the weather radar is executing its series of PPI scan sequences at angles which are optimal for the weather radar, the wind profiler may simultaneously execute a series of PPI scan sequences at angles close to the optimum for wind profile measurements.

In one embodiment, the coupling is adjustable. This may be achieved by utilising a double-yoke pivoting arrangement with one antenna being mounted below another. By making the coupling adjustable it is possible to vary the angle 9 _off between the axes of the two antennas 20, 40. This enables the axes of the two antennas 20, 40 to be tilted to different elevations when required in order to optimize the performance of the instruments under different conditions. Also, the coupling may provide for a variable azimuth offset between the two antennas 20, 40.

The antennas 20, 40 are supported by the pedestal 70 which provides a common turning gear (not shown) to provide for change in azimuth. Of course it will be appreciated that it is possible to arrange for separate turning gear for changes in azimuth of the two antennas 20, 40. In addition, a further common turning gear (not shown) is provided to provide for change in elevation. Of course it will be appreciated that it is possible to arrange for separate turning gear for changes in elevation of the two antennas 20, 40.

The offset angle 9 _off between the two axes of the antennas may be determined by Equation 1 when it is desired that the emitted beams face in the same direction or by Equation 2 when it is desired that the emitted beams face in opposing directions, where 9 _W is the desired elevational offset from the horizon of the weather radar and 9„ _p is the desired elevational offset from zenith of the wind profiler.

9 _off = 90 - 9^ - 9^ (Equation 1)

9 _off = 90 - 9^ + 9^ (Equation 2)

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

In so far as the embodiments of the invention described above are implemented, at least in part, using software-controlled data processing apparatus, it will be appreciated that a computer program providing such software control and a storage medium by which such a computer program is stored are envisaged as aspects of the present invention.