[Provided by Dr. Manabu D. Yamanaka]

EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS OF MST RADAR - mst8

Hotel Ashok, Bangalore, India
December 15-20, 1997

The Eithth International workshop on technical and scientific aspects of MST Radar -mst8- will be held Monday through Saturday, December 15-20, 1997 in the South Indian Garden City of Bangalore

The major topics of the workshop - mst8 - deal with radar scattering processes in the atmosphere and ionosphere, winds, waves and turbulence in the lower and middle atmosphere, meteorological phenomena and applications, such as wind profilers, boundary layer radars and networks, as well as major scientific, technical and signal processing achievements and highlights from the MST radar facilities of the world. These workshop is is organised into four major sessions as specified in the ensuing page. A visit to the National MST Radar Facility(NMRF) in Gadanki near Tirupati will be arrange on Saturday, December 20, 1997.

The International Steering Group consists of Prof. Shoichiro Fukao (Radio Atmospheric Science Center, Japan), Prof. Miguel F. Larsen (Clemson University, USA), Prof. C.H. Liu (National Central University, China-Taipei), Dr. A.P. Mitra (National Physical Laboratory, India) and Dr. Jurgen R(tger (EISCAT Scientific Association, Sweden). The local organization is under the direction of Prof. P.B. Rao (National MST Radar Facility, India) and Dr. S.C. Chakravarty (Indian Space Research Organization).

Registration form and fees

Meeting participants are requested to return the attached registration form, duly filled in, before July 15, 1997 to Dr. S.C. Chakravarty at the address given below.

Limited travel support may be available for young scientists below 35 years. Request for application form for travel support should be addressed to Dr. S.C. Chakravarty.

The registration fee is 120 USD (50 USD for students). This fee covers coffee breaks and lunch buffett.

Abstract Submission

The Streering Group invites from potential participants submission of abstracts through e-mail and also in camera-ready form in duplicate for contributed papers intended for presentation at the workshop. The abstracts have to be limited to one page and need to contain title, author's name(s) and affiliation(s). The primary author to whom all the corespondence is to be made should be identified and his mail and e-mail addresses as well as fax and telephone numbers need to be attached to the abstract (in a separate sheet). The name of the author making presentation should be marked with underline in the abstract. The abstracts are to be prepared preferably as per the specimen appearing in this circular.

Abstracts should be mailed to:

Dr. S.C. Chakravarty
Indian Space Research Organization
Antariksh Bhavan
New BEL Road
Bangalore-560 094, INDIA
Tel: +91-80-3416271
Eax: +91-80-3419190
E-mail: scc@isro.ernet.in

The deadline for abstract submission is July 15, 1997

The primary author will be informed about the approval of the paper by August 31, 1997.

ABSTRACT SPECIMAN

A Method of Adaptive Moments Estimation Technique applied to MST Radar Echoes

VK Anandan¹, P Balamuralidhar², PB Rao¹, AR Jain¹

¹National MST Radar Facility, Tirupati-517 502, AP, India
²Society for Applied Microwave and electronics Engineering, IIT Campus, Powai, Bombay, India

Abstract

The method adopted for processing spectral data is central to the problem of extracting information from the MST radar signal in an environment of low signal-to-noise ratio(SNR). In this paper we present a method implemented at the National MST Radar Facility, Gadanki, which operates in an adaptive way for tracking the Doppler signal and computing its moments.

The major data processing steps involved in the method are: (1) After editing the raw data for any interference that might be present, the average noise level is estimated for each range bin using the objective method of Hildebrand and Sekhon (1974) and subtracted from the power spectrum. (2) The total range is divided in to specified number of windows and for each window the following criteria are setup for adaptive tracking of the signal from range bin to range bin: (a) Doppler Window, (b) SNR threshold and (c) maximum wind shear. (3) Five candidate spectral peaks are selected within the specified Doppler window for each range bin SNR threshold and accepted if the criterion is satisfied. (4) For those range bins for which the SNR criterion is not met, the most prominent candidate signals bins that still remain unrepresented are filled in through interpolation of the spectral moments computed for the closest range bins.

The parameters used for the three criteria are so adjusted as to provide the best fit Doppler profile as judged by the visual inspection. The adaptive algorithm has been applied to a wide variety of signal conditions and its advantages over the conventional non-adaptive algorithm in estimating spectral moments, particularly over the height range of low SNR, have been demonstrated.

Reference

1. Hilderbrand PH & Sekhon RS, J. Appl. Meterol.,(USA),13(1974)808 .

mst8 SESSIONS

The workshop will be held in four main sessions, which will be subdivided into suitable sub-sessions, depending on the directions of the submitted abstracts. Rather than having individual poster sessions, it will be attempted to allow poster sessions just to supplement orally presented papers. Ample time will be planned for lively discussions. It may be noted that besides radar dominated topics, supplementary techniques such as optical and in-situ measurements are also welcome for inclusion in the workshop sessions. The four main workshop sessions will cover the following topics:

Scattering processes

This session will deal with theory, simultation, modelling, observations, interpretations and special techniques to investigate particular features of atmospheric and ionospheric irregularities causing the MST radar echoes.

Atmospheric dynamics

Winds, waves and turbulence studies will be treated in this session. These include coupling of different atmospheric regions by these processes as well as interaction of the dynamical processes of different scales. Radar observations, combined with models and theoretical developments, are part of this session.

Meteorology

MST radars are used for many studies of synoptic and mesoscale meteorological phenomena. Case studies as well as climatology will be covered in this session. The application of wind profilers, networks and boundary layer radars, RASS etc. form an integral part of this session.

Achievements and highlights

In this session extra-ordinary observations and novel scientific results will be presented from each radar facility and observatory. This session also includes innovative instrumental design and advanced signal processing techniques developed at the facilities, as well as highlights and invited reports on international campaigns and programs.

Eighth International Workshop on Technical and Scientific Aspects of MST Radar -mst8-

Hotel Ashok, Bangalore, India
December 15-20, 1997

Registration Form

Name :
Address :

City: State: Zip: Country:

Tel: Fax: E-Mail:

Please check the appropriate boxes below:

( ) I plan to attend mst8
Registration Fee: ( ) Student $50; ( ) Non-student $120

( ) I plan to attend the School of Atmospheric Radar

Method of Payment:
( ) Payment will be made upon arrival

Hotel Accommodation (Room Tariff excluding tax ~ 25%)

Hotel Ashok

Regular : ( ) Single Occupancy US$120; ( ) Double Occupancy US$140
Special Rate (for Students only): ( ) Double Occupancy US$90; ( ) Tripple Occupancy US$105

Alternate Accommodation at other Deluxe Hotel
( ) Single Occupancy US$55; ( ) Double Occupancy US$70

(REQUEST FOR HOTEL ACCOMMODATION WITH PARTICULARS OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DATES WILL HAVE TO CONFIRMED LATEST BY NOVEMBER 1, 1997)

Signature :
Date :

Mail to:
Dr. S. C. Chakravarty, Space Science Office,
ISRO Headquarters, Antariksh Bhavan, New BEL Road,
Bangalore-560094 INDIA
Telephone: +91-80-3416271
Fax: +91-80-3419190
E-mail: scc@isro.ernet.in

Last date for receiving the filled forms is July 15, 1997.

MEETING LOGISTICS

Location: All sessions will be held at the Hotel Ashok, Kumara Krupa Road, Bangalore. A map showing the location of the Hotel will be included in the second circular being sent through regular mail.

Hotel reservations: The Hotel Ashok will hold the block of rooms for meeting participants at the following rates.

Single Occupancy: US$ 120 per room per day (plus tax extra ~25%)
Double Occupancy: US$140 per room per day (plus tax extra ~25%)

However, for the student participants the Hotel Ashok will provide accommodation at concessional rates.

Student Double occupancy US$45 per head per day (plus tax extra ~25%)
Student Triple occupancy US$35 per head per day (plus tax extra ~25%)

Arrangements are being made to provide economy class of accommodation at a deluxe hotel with the following tariff.

Single occupancy US$55 and Double occupancy US$65 per room per day (plus tax extra ~25%)

Transportation: The local organizers will make necessary transport arrangements for the participants at the Bangalore Airport provided the arrival details of the participants are sent to the organizers well in time. In the case of non-availability of any official transport the participants may engage `prepaid taxi' to go the venue of the workshop - Hotel Ashok.

Banking: Foreign currency can be exchanged at Hotel Ashok. The Hotel Ashok and virtually all other reputed businesses in Bangalore accept all major credit cards.

Spouses' program : A spouses' program will be offered during the meeting to take advantage of the recreational and sight seeing opportunity in the area.

How to reach Bangalore: Bangalore is well connected to all the port of entry to India such as Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras), Delhi and Calcutta. One of the major domestic airlines - The Indian Airlines operates regular services from these four metropolitan cities. However, a few private airlines also operates regular schedules to Bangalore.

The schedule of Indian airlines and Jet Airways for internal travel will be included in the second circular being sent through regular mail.

Places of interest in Bangalore City

Vidhana Soudha:

A magnificent post-independence structure incorporating the traditional features of architecture, Vidhana Soudha is located in Cubbon Park. Built in granite, this three story building now houses the state legislature and secretariat. Prior permission is necessary to visit the interior.

Bannerghatta National Park:

About 23 km from Ashok, a fast developing extensive reserve for wild life covering an area of 104 sq.km. Apart from enclosures for different animals and birds, the park has a lion safari and a crocodile farm.

Lalbagh:

About 6km from Ashok, this garden was laid out by Haidarali and further developed by his son Tippu Sultan more than 200 years ago. Today it is one of the best Botanical Gardens in the country, spreading over 240 acres with over a thousand different varieties of trees and plants.

Fort and Tippu Sultan's Palace:

About 7km from Ashok, this historic fort was originally built in mud by Kempegowda, a local chieftain in 1535. Rebuilt in stone two centuries later by Haidarli, it was further improved by his son Tippu Sultan.

Government Museum and Venkatappa Art Gallery:

About 5 km from Ashok, situated next to Cubbon part on Kasturba Road, the museum displays sculpture, coins inscriptions, paintings excavated items, bronzes etc.

Visveswaraiah Industrial & Technological Museum:

About 3 km from Ashok, next to the Government museum on Kasturba Road, it is dedicated to the memory of M.Visveswaraiah, the architect of modern Karnataka. The exhibits highlight the various applications of Science & technology in industry and human welfare.