This website contains information that was current as of October 2020.
The DOW Radar and Surface Instrumentation Facility has partnered with the University of Illinois and is excited to continue providing the best possible education and research opportunities!
A new website currently is under development at: https://farm.atmos.illinois.edu/
DOWs 7 and 8 recently traveled to the Texas-Louisiana border to deploy on category 4 Hurricane Laura as it made landfall along the Gulf coast. After two long days of driving, followed by a full day of getting wrapped in duct tape, tarps, and ratchet straps the DOWs began their long night of scanning, hoping to capture elusive mesovortices and TSVs (tornado-scale vortices) in the hurricane eye. The mission was recently featured in the Washington Post (linked below). Click here to see a slideshow of our pictures from the deployment.
Washington Post: Photo show, Full page
Link to slideshow: Link
The Center for Severe Weather Research (CSWR) operates the Doppler on Wheels (DOW) mobile radar network, consisting of three dual-polarization, dual-frequency mobile radars (one C-band, two X-band) and one multi-beam, rapid scan radar (convertible to single beam). Researchers and faculty can request the DOWs for their projects.
CSWR is engaged in research investigating tornadogenesis and structure as well as hurricane boundary layers and wind damage. CSWR has also played a major role in dozens of major NSF research projects including RELAMPAGO, SNOWIE, PECAN, and VORTEX2. Click here for a list of publications in which CSWR data has been used.
CSWR is committed to community outreach as well as the advancement of radar meteorology education. Click here for a list of the educational projects in which CSWR has been involved. Want the DOWs to show up at your school or community event? Click here to make a request.
CSWR is regularly featured in the news, often in connection with the research in which it takes part.
The DOWs have travelled far and wide, and have been operated by many capable graduate students, interns and project participants. Nevertheless, for some of us, CSWR is a full-time job. Click the link to meet our staff. If you would like to contact CSWR click here.
