Small Weather Doppler Radar using Arduino/AVR

Hi there!

I am thinking of a building a little Doppler radar that can show me precipitation intensity in the clouds.

The range doesn't have to be far (5-10km should be enough). But I want to have high resolution out of it.

Is this project possible with multiple Arduino's? What kind of radio/microwave frequencies should I use to make clouds/water reflect those waves back to my receiver? And are there useful links for building a radar like this?

Thanks in advance!

What kind of radio/microwave frequencies should I use to make clouds/water reflect those waves back to my receiver?

But I doubt an Arduino can do much for you.

From Mike's link

where as a private TV station such as KCCI-TV in Des Moines only broadcasts at 270,000 watts

"only" :o

"Only" when compared to

The NWS transmits at 750,000 watts of power for their S band [weather radar]

Surely that can't be average power? It must be instantaneous power for very short pulses. Possibly "chirped" to compensate for atmospheric dispersion.

PaulRB:
Surely that can't be average power? It must be instantaneous power for very short pulses. Possibly "chirped" to compensate for atmospheric dispersion.

That's ERP. Effective radiated power. Actual output power X antenna gain.

Paul

PS: you would also need to be able to detect changes in the frequency of the returned echos. Due to the movement of the rain drops. Doppler radar doesn't detect clouds because they are not moving fast enough.

Paul_KD7HB:
That's ERP. Effective radiated power. Actual output power X antenna gain.

So, yes, instantaneous power X antenna gain. The average input power to the transmitter system will be a tiny fraction of that effective radiated power.