Vaisala WRK200 Brochure & Specs

www.vaisala.com

Vaisala Weather Radar WRK200 

Dual Polarization Adds 

New Dimension

The Vaisala Weather Radar  

WRK200 is a dual polarization C-band 

Klystron Doppler Weather Radar. The 

radar operates in either Simultaneous 

Transmit and Receive of H and V (STAR) 

mode  or Linear Depolarization Mode 

(LDR) mode , during which H alone 

is transmitted and both are received. 

STAR mode enables use of the high 

sensitivity power estimator increasing 

detectability by up to 10 dB versus 

the competition. The polarization 

variables, depending on the mode, are 

ZDR, RHOHV, PHIDP, KDP and LDR. 

However, the goal of  polarization radar 

is not only to produce and display 

these outputs; it is also to expand 

the capabilities of the radar for the 

operational forecaster.  

The WRK200  provides the following 

benefits:

• Hydrometeoridentification

• Attenuationcorrection

• Dataqualityimprovement

• Improvedrainfallestimates, 

based on KDP

S-Band Performance at  

a C-Band Price

Attenuation by intervening heavy 

precipitation has been a long-standing 

problem with C-band weather radars, 

making S-band radars preferable, 

especially in tropical environments 

where heavy rain is common. However, 

with dual polarization, the radar 

performs accurate, real-time attenuation 

corrections. The benefit is that you 

can obtain the same precipitation 

measurement accuracy using the 

WRK200 as with an S-band system that 

costs typically two or three times more.

More Accurate 

Precipitation Measurement

Eliminating non-meteorological 

targets and correcting attenuation can 

substantially improve precipitation 

measurement. However, the WRK200 

Features/Benefits

▪

Vaisala’s light-weight, semi-

yoke-style pedestal

▪

1 degree beamwidth low side 

lobe antenna

▪

High sensitivity mode 

processing to recover 

sensitivity loss in STAR mode

▪

>35 dB integrated cross-

polarization isolation

▪

Image rejection >80 dB  

(>100dB with Vaisala WG 

filters).

▪

Dynamic range > 99 dB  

(2

µs pulse)

▪

Feed forward control loop 

to allow extremely fast and 

precise antenna movement

▪

Dual channel digital IF receiver

▪

Precision horizontal and  

vertical beam matching

▪

Built around Vaisala Sigmet 

RVP900 signal processor 

▪

Integral flat screen display for 

local maintenance

▪

Remote control/monitoring

▪

Rainfall estimation based on 

KDP

▪

Accurate attenuation 

correction

▪

250 kW klystron transmitter 

with low-maintenance solid-

state modulator

▪

Option: Built-in dual channel 

receiver calibration

goes further by providing KDP-based 

measurement of the precipitation 

rate. Unlike the reflectivity (Z), 

KDP is directly proportional to the 

precipitation rate, independent of the 

radar calibration and unbiased by 

intervening clutter or partial beam 

blockage. This makes the KDP very 

robust in measuring moderate and 

heavy rain.