Evaluation of an inexpensive, wide band, coherent video recording technique for recovering velocity spectral data from meteorological Doppler radars after the fact

The primary objective of the considered investigations was to develop a low cost technique to record Doppler velocity data. A video cassette format was chosen, using the audio channel for recording the housekeeping information which includes rapidly updated antenna position information and time of day. The recording technique chosen uses methods similar to those employed to convey color information in commercial television broadcasting. The considered system was installed in a 5 cm Doppler radar for use during the Severe Environmental Storms and Mesoscale Experiment (SESAME) during the spring of 1979. The test results are analyzed. It is found that the VTR Doppler radar recording system can provide useful mean velocity and spectral data at its current state of development. Refinements on this system will increase the utility of the VTR, especially for multiple Doppler analysis.