Attention:
Operation of the Snow Thickness Radar requires experienced personnel on board the aircraft.
Summary
The Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) System is used for snow thickness measurements on sea ice with a vertical resolution in centimeter range (2 cm).
aircraft:bt-67:fmcw_snow (6796)
| Manufacturer | TU Harburg |
|---|---|
| Model | 8-12 GHz radar system |
| Serial No. | n/a |
| Type | radar system |
Contacts
| Name | Institution | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Steinhage | Alfred-Wegener-Institute | Device Contact |
Components and Specifications
The FMCW snow system comprises a transmitting and a receiving horn antenna. Two different antenna setups are available. A rackmount unit containing the electronics is installed close to the antennas. The installation also comprises an amplifier and a cooling unit. The system is operated from an external PC.
| Name | Model | Serial Number |
|---|---|---|
| Snow thickness radar 8-12 GHz horn antenna | LB-90-20 | J2021090417144 |
| Snow thickness radar 8-12 GHz horn antenna | LB-90-20 | J2021090417145 |
| Snow thickness radar 8-12 GHz horn antenna | LB-90-25 | J2021100223002 |
| Snow thickness radar 8-12 GHz horn antenna | LB-90-25 | J2021100223008 |
| Snow thickness radar 8-12 GHz horn antenna | LB-90-25 | J2021100223003 |
| Snow thickness radar 8-12 GHz rackmount unit | 8-12 GHz radar system | 1 |
Specifications of the Rackmount Unit (without mounting)
Dimension Sensor (L x W x H) |
380mm x 480mm x 130 mm |
|---|---|
Weight |
9.5 kg |
Power Supply |
28 VDC |
Data interface |
USB |
Specifications of Horn Antennas (without mounting)
Dimension Antennas Small (L x W x H) |
138 x 107 x 238 mm |
|---|---|
Weight Antennas Small |
0.3 kg |
Dimension Antennas Tall (L x W x H) |
244 x 204 x 678 mm |
Weight Antennas Tall |
1.8 kg |
Position
| Info | The transmitting and receiving horn antenna are installed on openings in the underfloor compartment. The electronic control unit is installed on the floor fastened on seat rails. |
Data logging, storage and archiving
Logged parameter
| Parameter | Sensor Output Type | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| travel-times of amplitudes (amplitude) | amplitude | dB |
| travel-times of amplitudes (speed) | speed | ns |