World Meteorology Day was on March 23 — but here at Mentis Sciences, we celebrate this vital field of science all year long. In fact, as radome manufacturers, we know that this technology plays an important role in understanding the weather that we experience each and every day.
Just read on to learn more about how radomes read the weather — and how they support both short-term forecasts and patterns that predict the future.
Radomes Perform Many Different Roles
There’s no limit to the ways radomes can power vital technology. They appear in everything from defense applications — such as Mentis Sciences’ radomes and nosecones for domestic and international missile systems — to, perhaps most notably, meteorological observations on a local, national, and global level.
Because they’re such versatile pieces of technology, it’s important that radome manufacturers have expertise in how to best customize fabrications for each individual project.
A Protective Exterior
A radome lends an extra layer of protection to technology that can be exposed to extreme conditions — here at Mentis Sciences, for example, the materials we use have been tested and maintained performance at nearly 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Radomes are also weatherproof, which makes their application in meteorology a natural fit. After all, to be able to read the weather, they must be able to withstand the weather.
Radomes do this by covering the antenna used in radar devices. In the case of missiles, this means the object can find its target despite adverse conditions; for weather observations, it paves the way for clear readings of approaching storms.
Understanding The Weather
Radomes and radar technology have come a long way since they were first used in the field of meteorology. As of WWII, radar was largely used for military applications — but according to the National Weather Service, radar devices would inadvertently report unusual readings during stretches of bad weather. This helped researchers discover the untapped potential of radar for reading the skies in a way that our eyes alone can’t.
It’s a fascinating bit of historical trivia that radar’s use in weather applications was discovered, essentially, by mistake. But of course, we’re not just look back at the history of radar in meteorology this spring — we’re looking far to the future, too! For example, did you know that NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (or NSSL) is busy at work on a new type of radar prototype? According to news from the laboratory, the Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD) is a prototype of radar that could work on an even more advanced scale — detecting severe weather earlier and more accurately, which can help the public in the path of potential weather threats. Depending on the outcome of testing, a network of such radars could be put into place by 2040 — giving the world an exciting milestone to look forward to when it comes to weather technology.
Here at Mentis Sciences, we’re proud to be one of the world leaders in radome fabrication — putting our advanced composites to the test so they can power through the most extreme conditions. Just get in touch today to learn more about our radome manufacturing applications.
