Abstract: A precipitation measuring system comprising a top thermal plate positioned to maximize exposure to falling precipitation and includes at least one ridge circumscribing the top surface for capturing precipitation. A second thermal plate is positioned under the top thermal plate to protect it from falling precipitation while still exposing it to the same atmospheric temperature and wind conditions. At least one solar radiation sensor is connected to the precipitation measuring system to measure solar radiation contacting at least one of the top and bottom thermal plates. During a precipitation event, the top and bottom thermal plates are maintained at a constant temperature and a power consumption curve for each thermal plate is quantified. The precipitation rate is measured by the difference in the power consumption curve for the top thermal plate and the power consumption curve for the bottom thermal plate.

Abstract: A precipitation measuring system comprising a top thermal plate positioned to maximize exposure to falling precipitation and includes at least one ridge circumscribing the top surface for capturing precipitation. A second thermal plate is positioned under the top thermal plate to protect it from falling precipitation while still exposing it to the same atmospheric temperature and wind conditions. At least one solar radiation sensor is connected to the precipitation measuring system to measure solar radiation contacting at least one of the top and bottom thermal plates. During a precipitation event, the top and bottom thermal plates are maintained at a constant temperature and a power consumption curve for each thermal plate is quantified. The precipitation rate is measured by the difference in the power consumption curve for the top thermal plate and the power consumption curve for the bottom thermal plate.

Abstract: A precipitation measuring system comprising a top thermal plate positioned to maximize exposure to falling precipitation and includes at least one ridge circumscribing the top surface for capturing precipitation. A second thermal plate is positioned under the top thermal plate to protect it from falling precipitation while still exposing it to the same atmospheric temperature and wind conditions. At least one solar radiation sensor is connected to the precipitation measuring system to measure solar radiation contacting at least one of the top and bottom thermal plates. During a precipitation event, the top and bottom thermal plates are maintained at a constant temperature and a power consumption curve for each thermal plate is quantified. The precipitation rate is measured by the difference in the power consumption curve for the top thermal plate and the power consumption curve for the bottom thermal plate.

Abstract: A precipitation measuring system comprising a top thermal plate positioned to maximize exposure to falling precipitation and includes at least one ridge circumscribing the top surface for capturing precipitation. A second thermal plate is positioned under the top thermal plate to protect it from falling precipitation while still exposing it to the same atmospheric temperature and wind conditions. At least one solar radiation sensor is connected to the precipitation measuring system to measure solar radiation contacting at least one of the top and bottom thermal plates. During a precipitation event, the top and bottom thermal plates are maintained at a constant temperature and a power consumption curve for each thermal plate is quantified. The precipitation rate is measured by the difference in the power consumption curve for the top thermal plate and the power consumption curve for the bottom thermal plate.

Abstract: A slave pulsed laser stabilizes the frequency by using the master laser frequency to stabilize a cavity in the slave pulsed laser. The slave pulsed laser includes an optical modulator, a cavity, a cavity modifier, and an output generator. The cavity includes an end reflector, a laser generator, an optical injector, and an output coupler. The optical modulator receives a continuous wave laser signal that includes a carrier frequency. The optical modulator then modulates the continuous wave laser signal to generate two sidebands around the carrier frequency. The laser generator generates a first laser signal in the cavity. The optical injector then injects the continuous wave laser signal with the first laser signal. The output generator generates an output signal based on the continuous wave laser signal. The cavity modifier then modifies a length of the cavity based on the output signal wherein the cavity is in resonance with the frequency of the continuous wave laser signal.

Abstract: The instrument package mounting apparatus comprises an axle that serves to eliminate the need to wrap a tether line about the axle. In particular, the axle comprises a cylindrical solid configured with a slot extending from the outer surface of the axle to a substantially central axis thereof, the slot being capable of receiving the tether line. Juxtaposed to this slot and located substantially centered about the substantially central axis of the axle is a rectangular shaped interior channel that functions to receive a pinch bar comprising a substantially rectangular shaped tapered bar. The tapered pinch bar is inserted into the channel formed in the axle and operates to frictionally secure the tether line and the axle. The friction to secure the tether line in the slot, as held in place by the tapered pinch bar is generated by a compression fit formed as the tapered pinch bar is inserted into the interior channel of the axle.

Abstract: A multi-stage processing system receives data from signals that indicate information related to scatterers, such as signals from a Doppler scanning system. The multi-stage processing system tracks allowed processing time for the data. The multi-stage processing system performs a first stage of processing for the data to generate first estimates of spectral moments for the signals. The multi-stage processing system performs additional stages of processing for the data as the allowed processing time permits and stops the additional stages of processing for the data when the allowed processing time expires. The additional stages of processing may comprise generating second estimates for at least some of the spectral moments. The additional stages of processing may use methods having increasing complexity and accuracy.

Abstract: A precipitation measuring system comprising a top thermal plate positioned to maximize exposure to falling precipitation and includes at least one ridge circumscribing the top surface for capturing precipitation. A second thermal plate is positioned under the top thermal plate to protect it from falling precipitation while still exposing it to the same atmospheric temperature and wind conditions. At least one solar radiation sensor is connected to the precipitation measuring system to measure solar radiation contacting at least one of the top and bottom thermal plates. During a precipitation event, the top and bottom thermal plates are maintained at a constant temperature and a power consumption curve for each thermal plate is quantified. The precipitation rate is measured by the difference in the power consumption curve for the top thermal plate and the power consumption curve for the bottom thermal plate.

Abstract: A method, software, and system determines temperature of a physical medium using remote measurements. One example of a physical medium is a cloud. A receiver receives at least one first received signal from an interaction of at least one first transmitted electromagnetic signal with the physical medium. A processing system then determines the at least one first received signal information based on the at least one first received signal. The processing system then determines the temperature of the physical medium based on the at least one first received signal information.

Abstract: The portable balloon launcher system consists of a case that is equipped with a set of legs that fold out from the back of the case. The case is then opened and folding panels located therein extended to create a substantially rectangular launch platform, oriented in a substantially horizontal plane. An integral launch bag is connected to the resultant portable and stable launch platform. The uninflated balloon is inserted into this launch bag, attached to a tank of helium, and inflated. Once the instrumentation is attached to the balloon and the balloon is ready to launch, the launch bag is opened and the balloon released.

Abstract: The system for measuring characteristics of scatterers by spaced receiver remote sensors uses a method based on calculation and analysis of the auto- and cross-structure functions for return signals. The method enhances operational capabilities of spaced receiver remote sensors by providing a diverse body of characteristics of scatterers at any elevation angle independently of a type of remote sensor, a type of scatterers, a number of scatterers and their spatial distribution within the illuminated volume. A list of characteristics includes (but is not limited by) the mean speed of scatterers, intensity of the speed fluctuations, and a set of indicators for identification of scatterers. The method is not so sensitive to ground clutter and hard targets as the existing methods are. The method allows to increase an effective signal-to-noise ratio for the existing spaced antenna remote sensors by using significantly overlapping antennas.

Abstract: The present system for determining the phase and amplitude of a radio occultation signal modifies the traditional Open Loop tracking process to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio, minimize the sampling rate, and also preserve the structure of the radio occultation signals. A radio occultation system includes a transmitter system, a receiver system, and a post-processing system. The receiver system receives the radio signal that is transmitted by the transmitter system through the earth's atmosphere, where it is occulted, and down converts the received radio occultation signal to generate a down converted signal based on a phase model that uses a refractivity climatology. The receiver system then low pass filters the down converted signal and samples the in-phase and quadrature components of the down converted and low pass filtered signal.

Abstract: The bistatic radar network uses an incoherent transmitter for determining the presence, locus, motion, and characteristics of scatterers in a predefined space. The incoherent transmitter generates pulses of high frequency energy that vary in frequency and/or phase. The bistatic radar network having an incoherent transmitter uses a scanning beam antenna located at the transmitter to transmit a focused beam of high frequency energy into a predefined space, with the transmitted beam comprising a series of pulses, each pulse in the series of pulses having a varying frequency, phase, pulse origination time and direction of propagation as it is emanated from said antenna. The transmitter also includes apparatus for determining pulse origination data comprising: frequency, phase, pulse origination time and direction of propagation, for each of the pulses in the transmitted beam emanating from the antenna, where the antenna is scanned in a predetermined scan pattern in at least an azimuthal direction.

Abstract: The multiple beam radar system uses multiple simultaneously transmitted beams of high frequency energy to identify scatterers that are located in a predetermined volume of space. This multiple beam radar system simultaneously transmits several beams of high frequency energy, produced by an antenna which operates in a mechanically scanning mode, and simultaneously receives the returned radiation, which constitutes components of this narrow beam that have been reflected off scatterers located in the path of the beam. The transmitted (and thus received) frequency of each beam is different, providing information relating to the presence, locus and characteristics of the scatterers by analyzing the plurality of received beams.

Abstract: A Global Positioning System includes a ground monitoring network having a plurality of dual frequency receivers that obtain ionospheric delay measurements to provide double difference ionospheric delay residuals. These double difference delay residuals are converted to zero differences based upon a new mathematical technique. The zero differences are fit to measurement epoch specific and transmitter specific mathematical surfaces (i.e. planes). These planes represent precise ionospheric delay corrections in the area of the ground monitoring network for a specific transmitter at the measurement epoch. The planes are then provided as correction information for use by inexpensive single frequency receivers to obtain highly accurate corrections for single frequency receivers by interpolating the correction planes to the location of the single frequency receiver.

Abstract: The bistatic radar network uses an incoherent transmitter for determining the presence, locus, motion, and characteristics of scatterers in a predefined space. The incoherent transmitter generates pulses of high frequency energy that vary in frequency and/or phase. The bistatic radar network having an incoherent transmitter uses a scanning beam antenna located at the transmitter to transmit a focused beam of high frequency energy into a predefined space, with the transmitted beam comprising a series of pulses, each pulse in the series of pulses having a varying frequency, phase, pulse origination time and direction of propagation as it is emanated from said antenna. The transmitter also includes apparatus for determining pulse origination data comprising: frequency, phase, pulse origination time and direction of propagation, for each of the pulses in the transmitted beam emanating from the antenna, where the antenna is scanned in a predetermined scan pattern in at least an azimuthal direction.

Abstract: The computation system of the present invention comprises an improved method of moment estimation for devices which measure spectra as a function of range or time. The preferred embodiment of this system is illustrated as part of an automated meteorological monitoring system for the accurate real time detection of meteorological phenomena, such as winds, wind shear and turbulence. This automated meteorological monitoring system uses a standard weather radar transmitter to scan a predetermined volume of space with a stream of radar pulses to determine the characteristics of meteorological phenomena that are extant in the predetermined volume. The computation system of the present invention utilizes novel signal processing algorithms in the improved method of moment estimation to excise the valid data from the returns echoes, which are corrupted by the presence of contaminating signals.

Abstract: The best-in-time forecasting system customizes its output forecast to the specific needs of a user and an identified event, which forecast is optimized as a function of the length of time between the receipt of the request and the time of the event. The best-in-time forecasting system comprises a data ingest & assimilation system that obtains the time-varying phenomena characteristic data from a plurality of external data sources and processes this information into a form and content appropriate for the needs of the best-in-time forecasting system. The processed data is stored in an information server for use by a presentation content system which functions to receive, process and respond to the user-provided information requests. A plurality of databases are included in the presentation content system to provide a subset of the time-varying characteristic data that the phenomena forecaster requires to process the forecast request.

Abstract: The bistatic radar system uses a scanning beam antenna located at the transmitter to transmit a focused beam of high frequency energy into a predefined space, with the transmitted beam comprising a series of pulses. The transmitter also includes apparatus for determining pulse origination data comprising: pulse origination time and direction of propagation for each of the pulses in the transmitted beam emanating from the antenna, where the antenna is scanned in a predetermined scan pattern in at least an azimuthal direction. The bistatic radar system also includes at least one receiver, located at a site remote from the transmitter and includes apparatus for generating pulse component receipt data indicative of receipt of components of the pulses that are contained in the transmitted beam that are reflected from scatterers in the predefined space.

Abstract: The recoverable airborne instrument platform accurately determines its present position and uses this data to execute a predetermined flight plan and ultimately guide its descent to a predetermined landing site. This is accomplished by installing the instrument package payload in the aerodynamic exterior housing of the recoverable airborne instrument platform, which has a plurality of moveable control surfaces thereon to autonomously control the altitude, attitude and flight path of the recoverable airborne instrument platform. A navigation circuit contained within the aerodynamic housing determines the geographic location of the recoverable airborne instrument platform as well as the location of at least one predetermined recovery site. The determined position data is used to dynamically calculate a flight path which allows the guidance control circuit to both execute a predetermined flight plan and controllably descend the recoverable instrument platform to a selected predetermined recovery site.