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Radar and Satellite Observation |
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There are 58 radars comprising meteorological radar network, which covers most of provincial capitals and part of medium sized cities in China. Among these radars 41 are C-band radar and 17 are S-band radar. In addition, we have also over 160 X-band weather radars. These are all conventional radars without Doppler capabilities.
However it is planed to deploy 126 new generation Doppler weather radars, named CINRAD, to form a new generation Doppler radar network, which will consist of 66 S-band and 60 C-band CINRAD radars. So far 23 have already been deployed. They have played important role in observing typhoon, hailstorm and rainstorm and made great contribution to the monitoring and warning of disastrous weather events. CINRAD has incorporated recent scientific results in computer science and microelectronics and is designed to meet both national and international requirements. Its accuracy, reliability and applicability are much better than the previously available weather radars.
It is expected that up to the end of 2002, there will be 52 CINRAD installed and it is planed that another 35 will be added by the end of 2003.
The Meteorological Satellite Program of China covers both polar orbiting and geostationary satellite series. The main objective of the program is to establish a comprehensive operational meteorological satellite system, as well as a ground monitoring and application system, in order to meet the demands of various user sectors.
The meteorological satellites launch by China are named as Feng-Yun (abbreviated as FY). The odd number series such as FY-1, FY-3 stands for polar orbiting satellite series, while the even number such as FY-2, FY-4 is for geostationary series.
Up to the present we have successfully launched 4 FY-1 series satellites and 2 FY-2 series satellites. They play an important role in weather forecast, climate prediction, natural disaster monitoring, environment monitoring and in carrying out various scientific research projects.
The ground meteorological monitoring and application system consists of 3 ground receiving stations located in Beijing, Guangzhou and Urumqi respectively and the National Satellite Meteorological Center in Beijing. The system is responsible for receiving, processing, analyzing the information from FY-1 and FY-2 series satellites, GMS satellite and NOAA series satellites, as well as application of these information.
Moreover we have established, in northwest part of China, radiometric calibration sites for remote sensing-satellites.
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