The Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information (AQPI) Project: A NOAA-CIRA Partnership in Radar Research and Deployment

V Chandrasekar

Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 2:00 pm MT
DSRC Room GC402

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Abstract

Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information (AQPI) is a synergistic project that combines observations and models to improve monitoring and forecasts of precipitation, streamflow, and coastal flooding in the San Francisco Bay Area. As an experimental system, AQPI leverages more than a decade of research, innovation, and implementation of a statewide, state-of-the-art network of observations, and development of the next generation of weather and coastal forecast models. AQPI was developed as a prototype in response to requests from the water management community for improved information on precipitation, riverine, and coastal conditions to inform their decision-making processes. Observation of precipitation in the complex Bay Area landscape of California’s coastal mountain ranges is known to be a challenging problem. But, with new advanced radar network techniques, AQPI is helping fill an important observational gap for this highly populated and vulnerable metropolitan area. The prototype AQPI system consists of improved weather radar data for precipitation estimation; additional surface measurements of precipitation, streamflow, and soil moisture; to improve situational awareness about current and future water conditions from sky to sea. Together these tools will help improve emergency preparedness and public response to prevent loss of life and destruction of property during extreme storms accompanied by heavy precipitation and high coastal water levels—especially high-moisture laden atmospheric rivers. This seminar will present various aspects of the project from initiation to completion , from the perspective of a strategic partnership between NOAA and CIRA , on advanced instrument development, deployment and maintenance , that has survived challenges and celebrated successes, jointly.

Bio

Dr. V Chandrasekar (Chandra) has made pioneering contributions in the area of “Polarimetric Radar Observations of the Atmosphere." Chandra has extensive experience in Radar System Design, Radar Network Development, DSP Design as well as RF Communication Systems. He has contributed significantly to the areas of weather radar and applications to Atmospheric Sciences. He also conducts research on related topics including Image Processing, Neural Network Applications and Large Scale System Simulation. He has organized and participated in six large multi-agency, national level experiments involving many radars, aircraft and ground instrumentation. He is an avid experimentalist conducting special experiments to collect in-situ observations to verify the new techniques and technologies. Chandra is co-author of two textbooks, Polarimetric and Doppler Weather Radar (by Cambridge University Press) and Probability and Random Processes (by McGraw Hill).

Chandra is co-PI of the CSU-CHILL radar facility where he plays an important role in maintaining it as one of the most advanced meteorological radar systems in the world available for research. He works actively with the CSU-CHILL radar supporting its research and education mission. He is also Co-PI and the associate director of the NSF Engineering Research Center, CASA (Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere), where he provides leadership for the sensing research in the center.

Related information

• AQPI information: PSL AQPI project page
• NOAA Research News: Groundbreaking atmospheric river forecasting collaboration crosses the finish line
• Colorado State University News: CSU key partner in groundbreaking system to advance atmospheric river forecasting