The Journal Record

A radar specifically built as an education tool for University of Oklahoma meteorology and engineering students has been unveiled.

The OU-PRIME, or Polarimetric Radar for Innovations in Meteorology and Engineering, was commissioned to be a highly advanced radar. It was completed in January and is just north of Oklahoma 9, east of Jenkins Avenue.

“There are a number of radars already in Norman, but they’re owned by the federal government, and their primary purpose is to protect the public,” said Bob Palmer, director of OU’s Atmospheric Radar Research Center. “That is good, but it’s important for students to have access to radar, and this radar is owned by the University of Oklahoma.”

The polarimetric design is an advanced form of NEXRAD that sends waves both horizontally and vertically. Most Doppler radars transmit only vertical waves.

Both planes are important because it receives more information about the type of precipitation, along with the size and shape of raindrops, Palmer said.