UGC-SVU CENTRE FOR MST RADAR APPLICATIONS

ANNUAL REPORT DURING THE YEAR 2012-13.

Prof.S.Vijaya Bhaskara Rao

Dept. of Physics

Sri Venkateswara University

Tirupati

UGC-SVU CENTRE FOR MST RADAR APPLICATIONS

SV UNIVERSITY, TIRUPATI – 517 502

ANNUAL REPORT DURING THE YEAR 2012-2013

Historical Backdrop:

To create scientific awareness about the potential use of the sophisticated radar

and other instrumentation facilities for advanced research in the area of atmospheric

sciences and to attract bright and young researchers to make use of the MST Radar, Lidar

and other co-located Facilities available at NARL, Gadanki; University Grants

Commission (UGC) has established an UGC-SVU Centre at S.V. University, Tirupati, to

serves as a common platform for the University system in India for the exchange of

scientific knowledge and the centre is accessible to scientist and researcher from Indian

Universities working in the area of Atmospheric Sciences.

MOU with UGC

Equipment Purchased:

• Enhanced Meteor Radar System

• Lidar for Atmospheric Measurement and Probing (LAMP)

• Micro Rain Radar

• Disdrometer

Equipment orders placed: • High Performance Computing System (HPC)

• Spectrum Analyzer

Frequency : 35.25MHz (centre)

Transmitter

Output Power : 40kW

Maximum duty cycle : 12% coded pulse

Transmission mode : Circular with 2 transmitter outputs and 90˚ delay cable

Band pass filter

Centre frequency : 35.25MHz

Bandwidth : 10 MHz

Antenna specifications

Rx antennas : X5

Type : 2 element Yagi

Arrangement :Circular (crossed dipoles)

Feed : T-match, combined as 2:1

Enhanced Meteor Radar System-SV University

System descriptions

5

Enhanced Meteor Radar System-SV University

Radar Control room Receiving antenna array

Receiver antenna Receiver Balloon box

Transmitter

Receiver system

Radar computer

Rx1 Rx2

Rx3

Rx5

Rx4

Enhanced Meteor Radar System-SV University

Transmitter antenna Transmitter Balun box

Receiver antenna Receiver Ballun box

Receiving antenna array

Preliminary results

Meteor counts on 30th Aug

SVU-Met Radar

SPL-Met radar

Winds comparison

LAMP Observations

Micro Rain Radar

Disdrometer

MRR Liquid Water Content

List of User Scientists/guest faculty visited the UGC-SVU centre

In the current academic year 35 members (Faculty, Scientists and Research scholars) have

visited UGC-SVU Centre several times and conducted experiments at NARL, Gadanki.

1. CH. Kanaka Rao, Dept. of Physics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam

2. Mr. Reji K. Dhaman, Research Scholar, Dept. of Optoelectronics, University of Kerala,

Thiruvananthapuram

3. Mr. G.S. Jayeshlal, Research Scholar, Dept. of Optoelectronics, University of Kerala,

Thiruvananthapuram

4. Dr. Ramakrishna Damle, Dept. of Physics, Bangalore University, Bangalore

5. Dr. B.V. Appa Rao, Scientist/Engineer, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota

6. Dr. G. Yellaiah, Dept. of Astronomy, Osmania University, Hyderabad

7. Mr. N. Rakesh Chandra, Dept. of Astronomy, Osmania University, Hyderabad

8. Dr. R. Suresh, Director, Airport Met Office, Indian Meteorological Department Air

Traffic Services, Meenambakkam

9. Mr. A. Mahender, Dept. of Astronomy, Osmania University, Hyderabad

10. Dr. G. Satyanarayana Raju, Head, Tracking and servo Division, Dept of Space,

Hassan

11. Dr. K. Chenna Reddy, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Astronomy, Osmania University,

Hyderabad

12. Dr. C. Mallikarjuna Rao, Associate Professor of Physics QIM College of Engg. &

Tech. Ongole

13. Ms. Sabiha Sultana, Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere & Land Sciences (CORAL), Indian Institute of Technology, Kharapur

14. Mr. A.S. Madhu Sudanacharyulu, Research Scholar, Dept. of Physics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam

15. Mr. A. Dharma Raju, Research Scholar, Dept. of Meteorology and Oceanography, Andhra University

16. Mr. K. Vijaya Kumar, Research Fellow, IITM, Pune

17. Mrs. K. Hemalatha, Research Scholar, Dept. of Physics, Rayalasima University, Kurnool

18. Mr. Partha Roy, Research Scholar, Kohima Science College, Department of Physics, Nagaland – 797002

19. Mr. Sham Singh, Research Scholar, Department of Physics, A.P.S. University, Rewa – 486 003

20. Mr. Amarjyoti Kalita, Research Scholar, North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Umiam – 793 103, Meghalaya

21. Ms. Maneesha Dharwan, Research Scholar, Dept. of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee- 247 667

22. Mr. Tikemani Bag, Research Scholar, Dept. of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee- 247 667

23. Ms. Shweta Thakur, Research Scholar, Barkatullah University, Bhopal.

24. Mr. Bhupendra Malvi, Research Scholar, Space Science Laboratory, Department of Electronics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal

25. Dr. D. Suresh Babu, Principal, Animal Husbandry Polytechnic, Venkataramannagudam, West Godavari

26. Mr. Ette Krishna, Research Scholar, R& D Centre, VBIT, Ghatkesar

27. Ms. G.L. Jayalekshmi, Research Scholar, University College, M.G. Road, Thiruvananthapuram

28. Md. Khaleelur Rahman, Guest Faculty, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad

29. Ms. G. Reshma Begam, Research Scholar, Department of Physics, Yogi Yemana University, Kadapa

30. Mr. C. Viswanath Vachaspati, Research Scholar, Department of Physics, Yogi Yemana University, Kadapa

31. Mr. Shaik Darga Sahed, Project Trainee, Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad-380015

32. Mr. N. Karpoora Sundara Pandian, Research Scholar, Dept. of Disaster Management, Pondicherry University, Andaman

33. Mr. Saravanan, Research Scholar, Dept. of Disaster Management, Pondicherry University, Andaman,

34. Dr. Khaleel-ur-Rahman, Asst. Professor of Physics, MANNU Polytechnic, Hyderabad

35. Dr. Humair Hussain, Asst. Professor of Physics, Greenford College of Engineering, Hyderabad

Conferences/workshops organized during (2012-2013)

1. “One Day National Workshop on Atmosphere and Weather Radars: Recent Developments and Future Challenges” on 3rd November, 2012

“One Day National Workshop on Atmosphere and Weather Radars: Recent Developments and Future

Challenges” was organized jointly by the UGC-SVU Centre for MST Radar Applications and

Narayana Engineering College, Nellore on 3rd November, 2013 to motivate Engineering faculty to

pursue Atmospheric research. This workshop was organized with the support of National Atmospheric

and Research Laboratory (NARL), Gadanki. 12 Resource persons from S.V. University, NARL, IMD

and ISRO delivered invited talks on the Atmosphere and Weather Radars and also explained the thrust

areas of research and future challenges in the areas of Atmospheric sciences. The workshop was well

attended with number of engineering faculty from Andhra Pradesh and neighbor states of Tamilnadu,

and Karnataka. Total participation was about 120 in the workshop.

2. Summer School on “ Basics of Atmospheric Sciences” during 11-21 March, 2013

Summer school on Basics of Atmospheric Sciences was organized in the Department of Physics, S.V. University,

Tirupati with the support of UGC-SVU Centre for MST Radar Applications and in collaboration with National

Atmospheric and Research Laboratory (NARL), Gadanki. The 10 days school was organized to train the manpower in

the areas of Atmospheric Sciences to familiar with the Basics of Atmospheric Sciences. 10 resource persons namely

Prof. A. Jayaraman, Director, NARL, Gadanki, Prof. P.V. Joseph, Professor Emeritus, CUSAT, Cochin Prof. U.S.

Singh, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Prof. B.V.Krishna Murthy, Chennai, Prof. A. Chandra Sekhar, IISST,

Thiruvananthapuram, Prof. K. Mohanakumar, CUSAT, Cochin, Prof. P.N. Sen, Emeritus Professor, University of

Pune, Pune, Dr. R. Suresh, IMD, Chennai, Dr. Amit Kesarkar, Scientist, NARL, Gadanki, Dr. C.Venkata Srinivas,

IGCAR, Kalpakkam, delivered lectures in the topics of introduction to atmosphere, atmospheric radiation and budget,

small scale and synoptic scale meteorological systems, fluid mechanics, Dynamic meteorology, etc.,. 75

students/research scholars from various institutions and Universities attended the Summer School. These lectures were

well received and the tutorial materials were distributed to the participants. Workshop was inaugurated by Prof. W.

Rajendra, Vice-Chancellor, S.V. University, Tirupati.

DST-SERB School

• DST – SERB Summer school on Basics of

Atmospheric “cience is proposed and DST

has approved.

• It will be organised in the month of April/May

2014.

• DST has constituted a committee to finalize

the syllabus and budget.

• The school will be opened to M.Sc Students.

Work carried out during the last Five

years (2007-2012)

• Mesospheric Studies

• Monsoon Studies

• Atmospheric Aerosols

• Rain Fade Slope Estimation Using Signal

Processing Techniques

Papers published in International Journals during 2012-2013

1. V.Kamalakar, A. Taori, K. Raghunath, S.V.B. Rao, A. Jayaraman, “ On Rayleigh lidar capability enhancement for the measurement of short-period waves at upper mesospheric altitudes” International journal of Remote Sensing, Volume 34, issue 21, August, 2013. DOI. 10.1080/01431161.2013.822599.

2. S. Eswaraiah, M. Venkat Ratnam, B.V.Krishna Murthy, A. Guharay and S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao , “ Short-period gravity wave momentum fluxes observed in the tropical troposphere, stratosphere and mesosphere”, J. Atmo. Sol.Terry.Phys 105-106 (July 2013) 1-7.

3. N. Radha Krishna Murthy, S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao, “ Studies on the Occurrence of Duct and Super refraction over Indian Region” General Sciences, International Journal of Current Research and Review, Vol 05 – P.12 – 20 June 2013.

4. S V B Rao, JT Ong, K I Timothy & D Venugopal, “ Propagation of free space optical links in Singapore”, Indian Journal of Radio & Space Physics, Vol. 42, June 2013, pp – 182-186.

5. K. Ramesh, S. Sridharan, K. Raghunath, S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao, and Y. Bhavani Kumar, “ Planetary wave-gravity wave interactions during mesospheric inversion layer events” Journal of Geophysical research: space physics, Vol.118, 1-13, June, 2013, doi: 10.1002/jgra.50379, 2013.

6. V.K. Anandan, VN Suresh Babu, C.J. Pan and S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao “Observation of wave generation and non-local perturbations in the atmosphere during the passage of a typhoon” J. Earth Syst. Sci. 122, No. 3, June 2013, PP – 603-612.

7. M. Venkat Ratnam, G.Kishore Kumar, S. Eswaraiah, and S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao,

“Morphology of Tropical Mesospheric Echoes Observed by VHF Radar”, Earth Planets

Space, Volume 65, P.No. 97-102, 2013.

8. Sai Kranthi, T. Narayana Rao, M. Rajeevan, and S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao, “Identification

and Validation of Homogeneous rainfall zones in India using correlation analysis” Journal of

Hydrometeorology, P.No. 304 -317, Volume 14, February, 2013, doi.10.1175/JHM-D -12-071.1

(Impact factor 3.05)

9. V.N. Sureshbabu, V.K. Anandan, Toshitaka Tsuda, Jun-Ichi Furumoto and S. Vijaya

Bhaskara Rao, “ Performance Analysis of Optimum Tilt Angle and Beam Configuration to

Derive Horizontal Wind Velocities by Postset Beam Steering Technique” IEEE

Transactions on Geo science and Remote Sensing, Vol.51, No. 1, P.No. 520-526, January,

2013 doi.10.1109/TGRS.2012.2200256.

10. M. Venkat Ratnam, Y. Durga Santhi, S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao, “Diurnal Variability of

stability indices observed using intense GPS radiosonde observations over a tropical

station: comparison with microwave radiometer measurements” Atmospheric Research,

124 (2013)21-33.

11. V.N. Sureshbabu, V.K. Anandan, Toshitaka Tsuda, Jun-Ichi Furumoto, and Sarangam

Vijaya Bhaskara Rao, “ Denoising Atmospheric Radar Signals Using Spectral-Based

Subspace Method Applicable for PBS Wind Estimation”, IEEE Transactions on Geo

Science and Remote Sensing No. 1-9, January, 2013, doi.10.1109/tgrs.2012.2227334.

12. T. Kiran Kumar, Harish Gadhavi , A. Jayaraman, Sai Suman, S. Vijaya Bhaskar Rao, N. Prabhakara Rao, “Temporal and spatial variability of aerosol optical depth over south India’’, Journal of Atmosphere and Solar Terrestrial Physics 7 January, 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2012.12.010(Impact Factor:1.579).

13. N. Parihar, A. Taori, V. Kamalakar & S.V. B. Rao, “A case study of Mesospheric wave periods and horizontal structures over a low latitude station, Allahabad ( India)” Earth Science Research: Vol.2, No. 1; 2013, ISSN 1927-0542 E-ISSN 1927-0550 doi: 10.5539/esr.v2n1p1, April, 2012.

14. Sharvan Kumar Muppa, V.K. Anandan, K. Amit Kesarkar, S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao, P. Narasimha Reddy, “Study on deep inland penetration of sea breeze over complex terrain in the tropics” Atmospheric Research, 2011, vol:104-105, Feb 2012, PP: 209-216 Feb, 2012. (Impact Factor: 1.56)

15. K. Niranjan Kumar, A. Taori, S. Sathish Kumar, V. Kamalakar, R. Ghodpage, S. Gurubaran, P.T. Patil, S.V.B. Rao and A.K. Patra “On the linkage of mesospheric planetary waves with those of the lower atmosphere and ionosphere: A case study from Indian low latitudes” Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol.117, A11303, doi.10.1029/2012JA018139, 2012

16. Chandrika panigrahi, S.Vijaya Bhaskara Rao, “Rain Fade Slope Estimation Using Signal Processing Techniques”, International Journal of Current research and review(IJCRR) Vol No. 4, Issue 11, 77-88, 2012.

17. T.Kiran Kumar, S.V.B.Rao, “Seasonal variation of Aerosol Optical depth over Indian subcontinent”, International Journal of Current research and review(IJCRR), P 87-95 Vol.4, no.10, May 2012.

18. S. Eswaraiah, M. Venkat Ratnam, Yu.I.Portnyagin, Evgeny Merzlyakov and S. Vijaya

Bhaskara Rao, “ Comparision of mesospheric mean vertical winds between MST Radar and

Emperical Model over a tropical”, P. 1298-1303, Current Science, Vol.102,no.9,10 May

2012.(Impact Factor: 0.782)

19. M. Venkat Ratnam, S. Eswaraiah, B.V.Krishna Murthy, A. K.Patra and S. Vijaya Bhaskara

Rao, “ Effect of the Annual Solar Eclipse of 15 January 2010 on the Low-Latitude

Mesosphere”, J. Atmo. Sol.Terry. Phys, 80(2012), 340-346.

Dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2012.02.022. (Impact Factor 1.7)

20. P. Pavan Chaitanya, A K Patra and S V B Rao “Contrasting features of the F3 layer during high

and low solar activity conditions observed from Indian low latitude”, IJRSP, Vol.41,no.2,121-

129, April, 2012.

21. L M Joshi, A K Patra and S V B Rao “ Equatorial F region irregularities during low and high

solar activity condition”, IJRSP, Vol.41,no.2,208-219, April, 2012.

22. A.Taori, V. Kamalakar, K.Raghunath, S.V.B.Rao, Qu Wu and J.M.Russel III, “Simultaneous

Rayleigh Lidar and Air glow measurements of middle atmospheric waves over low latittudes in

India” Journal of Atmospheric and Solar Terrestrial Physics, 78-79 (2012) 62-69, doi :

10.1016/j.jastp.2011.06.2012. (Impact Factor:1.579).

23. V.V.M. Jagannadha Rao, M. Venkat Ratnam, Y. Durga Santhi, M. Roja Raman, M. Rajeevan,

S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao, “ On the Detection of Onset and Activity of Indian Summer Monsoon

using GPSRO Refractivity Profiles”, Monthly Weather Review, (In press) 2012.

Ph.D Degrees awarded/submitted:

S. Eswaraiah, Investigations on the variability of the mesospheric echoes, winds, waves and associated momentum fluxes over a tropical region, September, 2012.

R. Varaprasad, Estimation of launch vehicle trajectory using advanced modeling techniques and processing algorithms, March, 2013.

T. Kiran Kumar “ Study of Atmospheric Aerosols over Indian Subcontinent using MODIS data” – submitted.

Lalit Mohan Joshi, “ Coupling processes in the low latitude ionospheric E and F regions” -submitted.

V.K. Anandan, “ Study on atmosphere during severe weather conditions using ground based remote sensing systems” – submitted.

K. Saikranthi, “ Characteristics of Rainfall over India as seen by Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar” – submitted.

M.Phil :

S. Jyothi, “ Spatiotemporal variability of precipitation over India using IMD and different reanalysis data sets” – submitted.

Ph.D Degrees awarded from the User scientists availing the UGC-SVU

Centre facilities: (During the Last Five Years)

1. Mr. P. Venkateswara Rao, Osmania University, Hyderabad

2. Mr. D.V. Phani Kumar, Osmania University, Hyderabad

3. Ms. Sri Vani, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam

4. Mr. R.S. Yadav, Allahabad University, Allahabad

5. Mr. Chenna Reddy, Osmania University, Hyderabad

6. Mr. N. Rakesh Chandra, Osmania University, Hyderabad

7. M. Shanwaz Begaum, S.K. University, Anantapur

8. Mahen Konwar, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur

9. Maria Antonita. T, Kerala University, Kerala

Equipment required for further research at S.V.University

• Lower atmosphere wind profiler/ mini ST radar

The lower atmosphere structure is highly dynamic over this region and hence

the three dimensional wind information along with our Lidar for Atmospheric

Measurement and Probing (LAMP) measurements will be highly useful.

• Technical assistant for maintaining the meteor Radar and other equipments.

Thank you