FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL HANDBOOK 11: DOPPLER RADAR METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS SYSTEM CONCEPTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PROCEDURES; DOPPLER RADAR THEORY AND METEOROLOGY; WSR-88D PRODUCTS AND ALGORITHMS

PREFACE
The Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research has the
responsibility to maintain and publish Federal Meteorological Handbooks. This series of
documents provides standards and procedures to facilitate the efficient collection, sharing, and
use of meteorological information by agencies of the federal government and private industry.

The original Federal Meteorological Handbook, Number 11 (FMH-11), DOPPLER RADAR
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, was prepared and published under the auspices of the
Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (OFCM)
at the request of the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) Program Council and in
coordination with the federal agencies that are represented on the Interdepartmental Committee
for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research. The purpose of FMH-11 is to
standardize, insofar as practical, the operation of the Weather Surveillance Radar-1988, Doppler
(WSR-88D) systems and the procedures used by personnel of the Departments of Commerce,
Defense, and Transportation. By approving publication of this handbook, those agencies have
agreed to operate their WSR-88D systems accordingly. Some flexibility under certain
meteorological, siting, or mission circumstances is permitted to enhance the quality and utility of
some WSR-88D products.

All revisions are coordinated among the NEXRAD triagencies (Department of Commerce
(DOC), Department of Defense (DoD), and Department of Transportation (DOT)); thus, they
possess the same authority as the initial edition of FMH-11. The revision process is dependent
on the evolution of WSR-88D subsystems hardware, software, and products – and resources to
make the updates. The NEXRAD agencies have endeavored to update Part A with every major
WSR-88D software release to ensure it provides users current operations guidance.