CSU-CHIVO
Deployment Type | Tower-mounted, containerized |
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Frequency | 5.65 GHz (C-band) |
Operating Modes | STSR, Single-Polarization |
Range Resolution | 50-300m |
Typical Range | 120-300 km |
Antenna | 4.5m (1 °) |
Transmitter | Coaxial Magnetron |
Receiver | Vaisala RVP9 |
CHIVO Data Sheet |
CSU-CHIVO is a C-band radar system with a 250 kW magnetron transmitter and a 4.3m (1° beamwidth) antenna. The antenna and radome are on top of a 6.5m (20 ft) steel tower to raise it above surrounding ground clutter. It is packaged in a containerized format for ease of transportation.
The radar is based on the Vaisala WRM200 commercial weather radar system. It is normally based at the ARDEC South radar site near Fort Collins, CO where it supports research scientists at Colorado State University. In 2019, it was used by the National Weather Service office in Boulder, CO as a gap-filler during an extended servicing of the NWS Denver NEXRAD (KFTG). The radar has been deployed several times in support of field campaigns as well.
Technical Overview
Transmitter
Receiver
Antenna, radome and tower
Deployments
CHIVO has been deployed on several field campaigns
ESCAPE 2022
In June 2022, CHIVO supported the Experiment of Sea-Breeze Convection, Aerosols, Precipitation and Environment (ESCAPE)-2022 field campaign in Houston, TX.
preCIP-2021
CHIVO (along with CSU-CHILL) supported the Prediction of Rainfall Extremes Campaign in the Pacific (PRECIP) planning campaign conducted locally in Colorado, designed to train scientists in the operation and analysis of data from C- and S-band radars executing coordinated scans.
RELAMPAGO
In 2018, CHIVO was deployed for three months to Alta Gracia, Argentina in support of the RELAMPAGO-CACTI field campaign.
Gallery
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CHIVO in Fort Collins, CO (2019)
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CHIVO in Alta Gracia, Argentina (2018)
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CHIVO in Houston, TX (2022)