Radar in meteorology

Weather radars play a vital role in short term weather forecasting and for meteorological research. They are being used routinely in meteorology to monitor storms and follow their evolution, as well as observe winds and detect regions where severe weather might develop. Specialists in radar meteorology, with backgrounds in meteorology, engineering, and computer science, work to improve the use of radar as a meteorological instrument.

J.S. Marshall Radar Observatory

At McGill University, we own and operate several weather radars and other meteorological sensors, with many of them running around the clock. For example, our large S-band Doppler radar is used for weather surveillance around the Montreal area. Part of the Canadian radar network, it is used by the local weather office to monitor weather in real-time. Its data are used in a variety of applications, from severe weather detection to sewer flow forecasting.

Being part of a university, our main focus is teaching and research. Our group upgrades and designs radars, develops new ways to process the radar signals and uses the resulting data, and performs research on the physics of weather events and their prediction. Results of the research are published in scientific journals and transfered for use by the weather office.