Mount Stapylton radar switched on and ready for storm season

22/09/2017

Brisbane's Mt Stapylton weather radar will be switched on again today following completion of a mid-life upgrade.

Bureau of Meteorology Queensland State Manager, Mr Bruce Gunn, said Mt Stapylton was one of four Doppler radars to receive a mid-life upgrade, in addition to radars located in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.

The project was planned for completion ahead of the wet season, when rainfall and thunderstorm activity typically begins to increase.

"The upgrade will extend the radar's operating life by approximately ten years and will include the addition of dual-polarisation technology for this first time," Mr Gunn said.

"The dual-polarisation technology installed is similar to that trialled in the CP2 research radar previously located at Redbank Plains near Ipswich which sends out vertically polarised pulses in addition to the standard horizontally polarised pulses.

"This provides a more detailed picture inside weather systems and enhances our forecasters' ability to differentiate frozen from liquid precipitation types, and even bushfire debris.

"It's great to have the radar back online ahead of schedule, as we turn our attention to preparation for the severe weather season characterised by thunderstorms with hail and localised flooding that is more frequent in early summer in southeast Queensland.

"The dual polarisation radar data will also form a key part of research being undertaken this summer by the University of Queensland, which we hope will assist the Bureau to develop improved warning services in the coming years," he said.

Note to media: The Bureau has released a YouTube video which explains the new dual polarisation technology. Media are welcome to share this content through social media networks, and broadcast quality vision is also available for download here:

Download: www.bom.gov.au/bomtransfer/misc/MtStapyltonRadar-FINAL.mp4