Adelaide Doppler Radar Takes Shape

The Bureau of Meteorology is putting the finishing touches to the new Doppler radar installation at Buckland Park on the northern outskirts of Adelaide.

This radar is being installed as part of a $62.2 million dollar project to replace fifteen of the Bureau of Meteorology's older radars and install enhanced Doppler capability at six locations. The Buckland Park installation is the first of the six Doppler radars and will provide the Bureau with additional information to provide enhanced services.

The geographical coverage of the new radars will be integrated with the existing non-Doppler radar network to balance the traditional surveillance imagery. The new Doppler information will contribute to a wide range of services provided by the Bureau of Meteorology, including hydrological, severe weather, public weather, marine and aviation services.

Ongoing operational benefits will include:

• Improved short term forecasting of severe weather, including hail, damaging winds, downbursts and tornadoes
• Improved radar derived rainfall rates for use in hydrological applications
• Improved techniques for the short-term forecasting of rainfall
• Enhanced tracking of the location and strength of wind changes, for the benefit of marine, aviation and bushfire-fighting communities.

The series of photos below (click to enlarge) shows the radar at different stages of construction. It is expected that following extensive testing and training, the new Doppler will be commissioned later this year, with service improvements to be implemented thereafter.