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Polar Radar for Ice Sheet Measurements

   
curved ice line
jagged ice
Home>PRISM Update >Overview 2004
 


Radar Overview 2004 - Wideband Depth Sounder (WCORDS)

Features:

  • Measures ice thickness up to depth of 4 km
  • Maps internal layers with a resolution of less than 1 m in ice
  • Improved sidelobe performance by amplitude and phase correction
  • Compact PCI form factor

System Overview:

schematic of parts of the radar

System Specifications:

Description
Characteristics
Units
Radar type Pulse Compression (digital)  
Center frequency
125
MHz
Operational bandwidth
150 (band 50-200)
MHz
Transmitted pulse width & PRF
Selectable
_s
Receiver noise figure
3.246
dB
Range sidelobes
>29 (Hanning)
dB
Peak transmit power
50-80 Surface based platform
Watts
Sampling frequency
500
MHz
A/D dynamic range
(>49.761)(10-bits)
dB
Range resolution
meters

All the modules are placed on two aluminum compact PCI cards and inserted in a compact PCI case (19" X 18" X 24") that provides power and control signals.

boards for wideband
PCI Card
PCI case
PCI Case
fan for compact PCI case
antenna array behind Tucker vehicle
Antenna Array behind Tucker

Results From Summit, Greenland (July 2004)

0-3000 meters record
 
500-900 m data
 
1300-1850 m data

 

 

 

 


PRISM © 2002, 2003 is brought to you by
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National Science Foundation University of Kansas
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NASA
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Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation
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University of Kansas