National Severe Storms Laboratory predicts that a phased array system will eventually replace the current network of WSR-88D radar transmitters. Applications Usage NEXRAD data is used in multiple ways. It is used by National Weather Service meteorologists and (under provisions of U.S. law) is freely available to users outside of the NWS, including researchers, media, and private citizens. The primary goal of NEXRAD data is to aid NWS meteorologists in operational forecasting. The data allows them to accurately track precipitation and anticipate its development and track. More importantly, it allows the meteorologists to track and anticipate severe weather and tornadoes. Combined with ground reports, tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings can be issued to alert the public about dangerous storms. NEXRAD data also provides information about rainfall rate and aids in hydrological forecasting. Data is provided to the public in several forms, the most basic form being graphics published to the NWS website. Data is also available in two similar, but different, raw formats. Available directly from the NWS is Level III data, consisting of reduced resolution, low-bandwidth base products as well as many derived, post-processed products; Level II data consists of only the base products, but at their original resolution. Because of the higher bandwidth costs, Level II data is not available directly from the NWS. The NWS distributes this data freely to Amazon Web Services and several top-tier universities, which in turn distribute the data to private organizations. Operational locations See also Canadian weather radar network List of Bureau of Meteorology weather radars Low level windshear alert system (LLWAS) Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) Notes References Atlas, David, Radar in Meteorology: Battan Memorial and 40th Anniversary Radar Meteorology Conference, published by the American Meteorological Society, Boston, 1990, 806 pages, , AMS Code RADMET. External links Theory of Doppler Weather Radar Frequently Asked Questions by NOAA Radar Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) by Weather Underground Social & Economic Benefits of NEXRAD from "NOAA Socioeconomics" website initiative Real time data NEXRAD real time data National Radar Reflectivity Mosaic FAQ's by NOAA Research RADAR Research and Development by NSSL National Weather Service weather radars