FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL HANDBOOK NO. 11 DOPPLER RADAR METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS PART D WSR-88D UNIT DESCRIPTION AND OPERATIONAL APPLICATIONS

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.

The revision process is dependent on the evolution of WSR-88D subsystems software and products.
Part A has been revised in conjunction with recent WSR-88D software releases to ensure it provides
users current operations guidance. Parts B, C, and D have/are being revised in a separate effort
principally through the guidance of the Radar Operations Center (ROC). 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.