NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is developing CloudCube, a compact, multifrequency radar designed to improve observations of dynamic cloud systems, including precipitation. The instrument uses three simultaneous radar signals to probe the atmosphere. Its operating frequencies span 36 to 240 GHz, allowing it to target different types and sizes of hydrometeors. NASA says the selected frequency range and the ability to transmit multiple signals at once are intended to improve sensitivity across a wide spectrum of water droplet and ice particle sizes found in clouds.
Both sources describe CloudCube as a miniaturized approach to radar atmospheric sounding, aimed at collecting more detailed information about how clouds evolve and how precipitation forms and changes. By combining multiple frequencies in a single compact package, the project seeks to enhance the usefulness of radar measurements while maintaining a smaller instrument footprint. The information gathered by CloudCube is intended to support better understanding and characterization of cloud and precipitation processes.
