WSR-74
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/WSR-74C_at_Springfield_IL.jpg/220px-WSR-74C_at_Springfield_IL.jpg)
WSR-74 RADARs were Weather Surveillance Radars designed in 1974 for the National Weather Service. They were added to the existing network of the WSR-57 model to improve forecasts and severe weather warnings. Some have been sold to other countries like Australia, Greece, and Pakistan.
Radar properties
There are two types in the WSR-74 series, which are almost identical except for operating frequency.[1] The WSR-74C (used for local warnings) operates in the C band, and the WSR-74S (used in the national network) operates in the S band (like the WSR-57 and the current WSR-88D). S band frequencies are better suited because they are not attenuated significantly in heavy rain while the C Band is strongly attenuated.
The WSR-74C uses a wavelength of 5.4 cm.[2] It also has a dish diameter of 8 feet, and a maximum range of 579 km (313 nm) as it was used only for reflectivities (see Doppler dilemma).
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Berrimah-radar-darwin-nt.jpg/300px-Berrimah-radar-darwin-nt.jpg)
The WSR-57 network was very spread out, with 66 radars to cover the entire country. There was little to no overlap in case one of these vacuum-tube radars went down for maintenance. The WSR-74 was introduced as a "gap filler", as well as an updated radar that, among other things, was transistor-based.[3]
WSR-74C radars were generally local-use radars that didn't operate unless severe weather was expected, while WSR-74S radars were generally used to replace WSR-57 radars in the national weather surveillance network. When a network radar went down, a nearby local radar might have to supply updates like a network radar.[4] Corpus Christi became the first operational site for the WSR-74C on February 1, 1976.
128[5] of the WSR-57 and WSR-74 model radars were spread across the country as the National Weather Service's radar network until the 1990s. They were gradually replaced by the WSR-88D model (Weather Surveillance Radar - 1988, Doppler), constituting the NEXRAD network. The WSR-74 had served the NWS for two decades.
Thirteen WSR-74Cs still have not been decommissioned and, of those, eight remain in active use today. No WSR-74Ss are in the NWS inventory today, having been replaced by the WSR-88D. Some of these radars are in commercial use.
Radar sites in the US
WSR-74 sites include the following two categories:[6][7]
WSR-74C Site | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
---|---|---|
Abilene, TX (ABI) | August 27, 1977 | April 30, 1997 |
Akron, OH (CAK) | June 1, 1977 | November 15, 1995 |
Albany, NY (ALB) | July 27, 1977 | November 2, 1995 |
Alpena, MI (APN) | June 8, 1977 | December 9, 1996 |
Atlanta, GA (ATL) On a building between Hartsfield and downtown to this day. |
October 20, 1976 | February 1, 1996 |
Augusta, GA (AGS) | July 1, 1976 | July 30, 1996 |
Austin, TX (AUS) | April 9, 1976 | October 13, 1995 |
Baton Rouge, LA (BTR) | October 20, 1978 | May 14, 1996 |
Beckley, WV (BKW) | November 1, 1977 | January 12, 1996 |
Billings, MT (BIL)] | April 18, 1978 | May 30, 1996 |
Bismarck, ND (BIS) | October 5, 1978 | February 28, 1996 |
Burlington, VT (BTV) | Late 1977 | January 29, 1998 |
Charlotte, NC (CLT) | February 28, 1978 | September 17, 1996 |
Chattanooga, TN (CHA) | June 10, 1998 | |
Cheyenne, WY (CYS) | September 15, 1976 | April 24, 1996 |
Cleveland, OH (CLE) | August 4, 1976 Replaced a WSR-3. |
November 15, 1995 |
Columbia, MO (COU) | Novbember 9, 1977 Replaced a WSR-3. |
June 19, 1996 |
Columbia, SC (CAE) | January 26, 1976
JReplaced a WSR-1. |
October 25, 1995 |
Columbus, GA (CSG) | April 2, 1979 | April 3, 1996 |
Columbus, OH (CMH) | June 9, 1977 Replaced a WSR-3. |
December 1, 1995 |
Concordia, KS (CNK) | February 18, 1977 Replaced a WSR-3. |
November 9, 1995 |
Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) | February 1, 1976 | March 10, 1997 |
Duluth, MN (DLH) | 1977 | March 25, 1997 |
Erie, PA (ERI) | August 30, 1977 | January 15, 2000? |
Fort Smith, AR (FSM) | November 25, 1975 Replaced a WSR-3. |
July 7, 1998 |
Fort Wayne, IN (FWA) | March 12, 1976 Replaced a WSR-3. |
July 8, 1998 |
Goodland, KS (GLD) | June 6, 1978 Replaced a WSR-3. |
October 25, 1995 |
Harrisburg, PA (HAR) | June 28, 1977 | January 12, 1996 |
Hartford, CT (BDL) | April 1977 | November 2, 1995 |
Houghton Lake, MI (HTL) | December 9, 1996 | |
Huntsville, AL (HSV) (Doppler capability after July 1991) |
1977. Replaced a WSR-3. |
December 15, 1999? Now the ARMOR radar. |
Indianapolis, IN (IND) | September 28, 1977 | February 28, 1996 |
Las Vegas, NV (LAS) | September 1, 1995 | |
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) On top of the Federal Building in Westwood to this day. |
May 15, 1995 | |
Louisville, KY (SDF) | July 19, 1994 | |
Lubbock, TX (LBB) | April 3, 1996 | |
Macon, GA (MCN) | April 18, 1977 | April 3, 1996 |
Madison, WI (MSN) At Madison Airport. |
1972 | May 7, 1996 |
Marquette, MI (MQT) | July 16, 1996 | |
Meridian, MS (MEI) | November 2, 1976 | December 26, 1996 |
Mobile, AL (MOB) | October 12, 1995 | |
Moline, IL (MLI) | August 30, 1977 | January 19, 1996 |
Montgomery, AL (MGM) (Doppler capability after 1982) |
1977 | June 4, 1996 |
Muskegon, MI (MKG) | March 25, 1976 | August 13, 1996 |
Norfolk, NE (OFK) | May 14, 1976 | March 25, 1997 |
North Platte, NE (LBF) | November 27, 1996 | |
Omaha, NE (OVN) | 1977 | July 10, 1996 |
Paducah, KY (PAH) At the Paducah Airport. |
1984 | February 23, 1996 |
Phoenix, AZ (PHX) | August 15, 1994 | |
Portland, OR (PDX) | January 30, 1996 | |
Raleigh, NC (RDU) | May 19, 1977 | December 22, 1995 |
Rapid City, SD (RAP) | November 4, 1996 | |
Rochester, MN (RST) | April 1976 | January 9, 1997 |
San Angelo, TX (SJT) | October 1977 | April 22, 1997 |
Savannah, GA (SAV) | November 15, 1982 | February 11, 1997 |
Shreveport, LA (SHV) | June 5, 1996 | |
Sioux Falls, SD (FSD) | 1976 | October 4, 1996 |
South Bend, IN (SBN) | October 22, 1982 | July 8, 1998 |
Springfield, IL (SPI) | October 16, 1980 | July 30, 1996 |
Topeka, KS (TOP) | 1976 | November 2, 1995 |
Tucson, AZ (TUS) | January 1983 | March 14, 1996 |
Tulsa, OK (TUL) | March 12, 1976 | April 5, 1995 |
Tupelo, MS (TUP) | April 1, 1983 | December 6, 1995 |
Waco, TX (ACT) | November 8, 1976 | September 13, 1995 |
Waterloo, IA (ALO) | November 19, 1976 | January 17, 1997 |
Wichita Falls, TX (SPS) | February 5, 1977 | December 26, 1996 |
Williston, ND (ISN) | February 21, 1978 | Not decommissioned |
Worcester, MA (ORH) | July 2, 1976 | April 5, 1995 |
WSR-74S Site | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
---|---|---|
Alliance, NE (AIA) | June 10, 1977 | January 17, 1997 |
Binghamton, NY (BGM) | March 8, 1978 | September 26, 1995 |
Charleston, WV (CRW) WSR-74S providing local coverage |
May 16, 1977 | January 12, 1996 |
Chatham, MA (CHH) | May 6, 1983 | April 5, 1995 |
Detroit, MI (DTW) | March 9, 1984 Replaced a WSR-57. |
November 9, 1995 |
Fargo, ND (FAR) | February 1, 1978 Was a WSR-74C from Oct. 9, 1976 to Nov. 27, 1977 |
November 27, 1996 |
Jackson, KY (JKL) WSR-74S providing local coverage |
April 1, 1981 | July 1, 1997 |
Key West, FL (EYW) | 1980. Replaced a WSR-57. |
October 20, 1998 |
Longview, TX (GGG) | March 1, 1978 | March 14, 1996 |
Marseilles, IL (MMO) (Doppler capability) |
November 1, 1974. Replaced a WSR-57 at Chicago. |
January 19, 1996 |
Memphis, TN (MEG) At East Memphis/Agricenter site |
January 1986. Replaced a WSR-57. |
June 21, 1995 |
Monett, MO (UMN) | March 16, 1971 Replaced a WSR-57 |
February 1, 1996 |
Patuxent River, MD (NHK) At Patuxent River NAS |
Early 1980s. Replaced a WSR-57 at Washington, DC. |
November 17, 1995 |
Portland, ME (PWM) | March 5, 1985 Replaced a WSR-57. |
September 13, 1995 |
San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) WSR-74S providing local coverage |
February 26, 1999 | |
Volens, VA (VQN) | April 12, 1977 | December 1, 1995 |
West Palm Beach, FL (PBI) WSR-74S providing local coverage |
October 13, 1995 |
See also
References
- ^ http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/pub/oprad/sect7.pdf
- ^ Paul Sirvatka. "WSR - Weather Surveillance Radar." Radar. College of DuPage. 4 Apr. 2006 <http://weather.cod.edu/sirvatka/radar.html>.
- ^ Roger C. Whiton, et al. "History of Operational Use of Weather Radar by U.S. Weather Services. Part I: The Pre-NEXRAD Era." Weather and Forecasting: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 219–243. 19 Feb. 1998. American Meteorological Society. 5 Apr. 2006 <http://ams.allenpress.com/amsonline/?request=get-document&doi=10.1175%2F1520-0434(1998)013%3C0219:HOOUOW%3E2.0.CO%3B2>.
- ^ Stormtrack.org Forum 9498
- ^ http://sysu1.wsicorp.com/unidata/intro.html
- ^ NWS Modernization Committee. "Toward a New National Weather Service - Assessment of NEXRAD Coverage and Associated Weather Services".
- ^ Stormtrack.org Forum 10344