AL Profiler System Operations Guide

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

The Aeronomy Laboratory S-Band radar operates at 2835 MHz. It is designed to run continuously, with very little attention. For most of the time on Ronald H. Brown, the radar will be operated in a "patrol" mode. This is a moderately sensitive mode that should be reliable and not require a lot of care and feeding by the ship's crew. This proposed mode will use slightly less than 40 Megabytes of storage each day. This will allow about 25 days of data to be stored on a JAZ disk. 20 JAZ disks have been included for the cruise with the radar.

For the NAURU99 and KWAJEX missions, the radar will operate in two modes. The first mode will use a 500 meter pulse length and high sensitivity to observe clouds, ice, and snow high in the atmosphere. The second mode will use a 60 meter pulse length and be used primarily to obtain data from rain events, measuring from near the surface to above the melting layer. Both modes will observe clear-air returns in the lower part of the atmosphere. This operating mode will write about 95 Megabytes of data each day. There are 10 JAZ disks for the NAURU99 cruise, and more will be supplied for the KWAJEX cruises.

The AL2835 radar computer uses the WINDOWS98 operating system. The computer operates the 2835 MHz radar. The RADAR INTERFACE and RX-TX UNIT on top of the AL2835 computer are the main indoor components of the 2835 MHz radar. The antenna is the blue, vertically- pointing antenna on the forward O3 deck. The 2835 RX-TX unit is located under the antenna.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

These instructions should be followed daily.

1.	The program that operates the radar is called POP4. With this document is the POP4 reference manual for those who desire more information about the operation of the radar.

2.	Verify spectra are being processed on the AL2835 computer by looking at the lower left hand corner of the monitor. You should see spectra count down followed by a refresh of the screen with the latest data

a.	If the menu bar at the bottom of the screen is flashing, the radar is in the pause mode. Press <F9>, then <F10> to start the radar taking data.

b.	If the data is not being plotted, press <F8> to get the data display.

3.	Make an entry on the log sheet stating the time, date, and operator's name.

4.	Verify current is flowing to the transmitter on AL2835 by looking at the LCD on front of the RADAR INTERFACE. The value should range between 1700 and 1800 in the long pulse mode, and between 230 and 250 in the short pulse mode. Record these values on the log sheet.

5.	Type a <F8> to put the radar in the display off mode (<F8> is the display ON/OFF toggle control). When the display is gone, press <ALT-ENTER> to minimize the display and get the WINDOWS98 desktop.

NOTE: DO NOT LEAVE THE RADAR IN THE SCREEN MINIMIZED MODE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THIS MODE DOES AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE DATA BY SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESSING.

6.	Double click the CHECKDISK icon to determine how much space is on the disk drive and the JAZ drive. There will be a short pause while the JAZ drive spins up. Record these values on the log sheet.

7.	The profiler generales daily spectra files that are about 95 Mbytes in size. If the JAZ disk has less than 96 Mbytes of free space, then NO more files will be written to that disk. When this occurs it is time to install a new JAZ disk:

a.	Remove the JAZ disk by pressing the button at the lower right of the JAZ disk drive unit.

b.	Slide in a new JAZ disk.

c.	Make a note on the log sheet that a new JAZ disk has been installed.

d.	Label the disks with RHB and sequential numbers: RHB #. Try not to write too much on the disk, since we re-use the disks.

e.	There is a stable clock inside the computer. It will keep the computer's time stable to with in 1 second per month, so the time will only need to be checked when the JAZ disks are changed.

i.	To set the clock, double click the SET CLOCK icon to set the time on the real-time clock board.

ii.	Set the clock to the UT time, as displayed above and to the left of the AL2835 computer.

8.	Double click the ARCHIVER icon to start the writing of the data to the JAZ drive. Data from previous days are copied to the JAZ, leaving only today's data on the hard disk.

9.	Restore the radar display:

a.	Click on the POP4 window, to give it focus.

b.	Type an <ALT-ENTER> to maximize the POP4 window.

c.	Press <F8> to turn the radar display back on.

10.	Wait for the display to change and make sure the radar is operating correctly.

NORMAL SHUT DOWN OF THE RADAR

1.	Type: <ALT-Q> on the radar keyboard and wait for the menu bar at the bottom of the screen to start flashing, signifying that the data taking cycle has finished.

2.	Type: <ESC> to exit the Profiler Operating Program (POP4).

3.	You will now be at the WINDOWS98 desktop. Use the windows shut down before turning off the computer. This is done using the mouse to click on the "START" button in the bottom left of the screen, then selecting shutdown.

4.	When the display says it is okay to turn off the computer, switch off the computer power switch, located at the right rear of the computer chassis.

5.	Turn the power off to the entire radar by turning of the plug strip located behind the keyboard drawer, on the left side.

PANIC SHUT DOWN OF THE RADAR

Turn power off to the entire radar by turning off the plug strip behind the keyboard drawer, on the left side. This may cause problems with the operating system, but they can be solved later.

STARTING THE RADAR

1.	Turn on the equipment by turning on the power switch on the plug strip.

2.	Turn on the computer.

3.	After the operating system has started, the POP4 program will automatically start operating.

4.	Verify that the radar program is operating correctly.

CONTACT POINTS

In case of problems with the equipment, call Paul Johnston at the NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory in Boulder. Paul is the main contact for the 2835 Profiler. When he is not in Boulder, his telephone will be monitored by other Aeronomy Laboratory staff. Be sure to leave a message if the phone is not answered. Routine messaging can be done by e-mail. Aeronomy Laboratory contact points are listed below:

1.	Dr. Ken Gage, program leader for the Tropical Dynamics and Climate group

a.	TEL: 1-303-497-3964

b.	E-mail: kgage@al.noaa.gov

2.	Mr. Paul Johnston, radar systems engineer

a.	TEL: 1-303-497-3176

b.	Home TEL: 1-303-776-5517

c.	E-mail: pej@al.noaa.gov

3.	Mr. Dave Carter, main software developer for POP4

a.	TEL: 1-303-497-5476

b.	E-mail: dac@al.noaa.gov

4.	Mrs. Barbara (Babs) Herrli, group secretary

a.	TEL: 1-303-497-3876

5.	The Aeronomy Laboratory FAX number is 1-303-497-5373.