Hail Detector and Forecaster ArtAr-HDF

Abstract

This article describes a new and low-cost microwave passive sensor for hail prediction (forecasting) and detection developed in Armenia, which can be used to implement fully autonomous and automatically functioning hail protection of locally limited or large agricultural and urban areas in order to prevent, suppress or catch hail in traps. The article also presents the results of measurements of the intrinsic emission characteristics of water and ice, rain and hail clouds, carried out in laboratory and field conditions in the Ku-band of radio frequencies. The results obtained showed that the intrinsic emission of a hail cloud in the Ku-band of radio frequencies differs significantly from the intrinsic emission of a rain cloud. The presented results show that indeed the radar is not very suitable for the timely detection and determination of hail with a high probability, which is very important for the timely starting up of anti-hail protection means. On the contrary, radiometers (passive microwave sensors) can become an effective sensing tool for timely detection and recognition of hail with a high probability of long-range approaches up to ~12 - 15 km.