Acquisition and Use of NEXRAD and FAA Doppler Weather Radar Data Presented to the Monroney Aeronautical Center 9 November 2000 Kelvin K. Droegemeier Center

Acquisition and Use of NEXRAD Acquisition and Use of NEXRAD

and FAA Doppler Weather and FAA Doppler Weather Radar DataRadar Data

Presented to the Monroney Aeronautical CenterPresented to the Monroney Aeronautical Center

9 November 2000 9 November 2000

Kelvin K. DroegemeierKelvin K. DroegemeierCenter for Analysis and Prediction of Storms Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms

andandSchool of MeteorologySchool of MeteorologyUniversity of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma

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NEXRAD Doppler Radar NetworkNEXRAD Doppler Radar Network

NEXRAD Facts and FiguresNEXRAD Facts and Figures

158 radars (141 in the Continental US)158 radars (141 in the Continental US)– 120 National Weather Service radars120 National Weather Service radars– 26 Department of Defense radars26 Department of Defense radars– 12 Federal Aviation Administration radars12 Federal Aviation Administration radars

NEXRAD Data TypesNEXRAD Data Types

Archive Level I (raw receiver data)Archive Level I (raw receiver data) Level II data (digital data in spherical coordinates at full resolution)Level II data (digital data in spherical coordinates at full resolution) Archive Level III (digital products)Archive Level III (digital products) Archive Level IV (forecaster-generated products)Archive Level IV (forecaster-generated products)



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NEXRAD Product Data NEXRAD Product Data (NIDS)(NIDS)

24 products available from all CONUS 24 products available from all CONUS radars in real timeradars in real time

Lowest 4 elevation angles onlyLowest 4 elevation angles only Low-precision because values are Low-precision because values are

quantized (e.g., 0-5, 5-10, 10-15)quantized (e.g., 0-5, 5-10, 10-15)

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NEXRAD Base (Level II) NEXRAD Base (Level II) DataData

Full resolution digital dataFull resolution digital data– Full data precisionFull data precision– All elevation anglesAll elevation angles

Not available in real time except Not available in real time except for selected sites (more on that for selected sites (more on that later)later)

This data set is the focus of our This data set is the focus of our effortsefforts

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Base Data Usage: NSSL Warning Base Data Usage: NSSL Warning Decision Support System on 3 May Decision Support System on 3 May

19991999

Courtesy National Severe Storms Laboratory

Trimmed Detections and Ground Truth Damage Paths

Hits (142)

Misses (25)

FAs (21) Courtesy D. Zittel

The Value of NEXRAD Radar The Value of NEXRAD Radar Data for Numerical Storm Data for Numerical Storm

Prediction: Prediction: The 3 May 1999 OklahomaThe 3 May 1999 Oklahoma

Tornado OutbreakTornado Outbreak

Copyright 1999 The Daily Oklahoman

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NEXRAD Radar Observations

CAPS Numerical Forecasts of the May 3 Tornadic CAPS Numerical Forecasts of the May 3 Tornadic StormsStorms

5:00 pm - Model Initialization Time

ARPS Prediction Model(0 hour forecast)

Storm Beyond VelocityRange of NEXRAD

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5:30 pm - 30 min Forecast

ARPS Prediction Model(1/2 hour forecast)

Model Generatesthe Storm Itself


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6:00 pm - 1 hour Forecast



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6:30 pm - 1.5 hour Forecast

ARPS Prediction Model(1 1/2 hour forecast)


Strong MesocyclonePresent Tornado on the

Ground

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7:00 pm - 2 hour Forecast




Forecasts Forecasts With and WithoutWith and Without NEXRAD NEXRAD DataData

Moore, OKTornadic

Storm

2-Hour CAPS Computer Forecast Down to the Scale of Counties

WITHWITHOUT

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Summary: WSR-88D Radar DataSummary: WSR-88D Radar Data The scientific and operational communities need The scientific and operational communities need

base data (real time and archived)base data (real time and archived) Although NIDS data are available in real time from Although NIDS data are available in real time from

allall WSR-88D radars, they are insufficient for many WSR-88D radars, they are insufficient for many applications (NWP, hydrology)applications (NWP, hydrology)– Degradation of precisionDegradation of precision– Only the lowest 4 tilts are transmittedOnly the lowest 4 tilts are transmitted

Base data currently are Base data currently are notnot available in real time available in real time– Originally would have been expensive Originally would have been expensive – Presumed large volume of data (10 mbytes/5 min/radar)Presumed large volume of data (10 mbytes/5 min/radar)– Need wasn’t there 10 years agoNeed wasn’t there 10 years ago

The technology and need now exist to prototype the The technology and need now exist to prototype the direct acquisition, use, and archival of base data in direct acquisition, use, and archival of base data in real timereal time

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The Collaborative Radar The Collaborative Radar Acquisition Field Test Acquisition Field Test

(CRAFT)(CRAFT) Establish a prototype real time WSR-88D base Establish a prototype real time WSR-88D base

data acquisition test bed todata acquisition test bed to– Evaluate strategies for Evaluate strategies for compressing and transmittingcompressing and transmitting

base data in real timebase data in real time– Develop efficient and cost-effective strategies for Develop efficient and cost-effective strategies for

direct digital ingest, archive, and retrievaldirect digital ingest, archive, and retrieval at NCDC at NCDC– Assess the value of base data in Assess the value of base data in numerical weather numerical weather

predictionprediction– Test web-based Test web-based data miningdata mining techniques for rapid techniques for rapid

perusal/access of base data by the scientific perusal/access of base data by the scientific communitycommunity

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Technical StrategyTechnical Strategy

Repeater Hub

RIDDS Linux PC

Unidata LDM ($1500)

Server

Dedicated 56K line

($2000 - $6000/year)Cisco 1600

Series Router($2000)

WSR-88D

At the radar site

Users

Internet

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Original CRAFT NetworkOriginal CRAFT Network

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CRAFT Phase I: Proof-of-CRAFT Phase I: Proof-of-ConceptConcept

Abilene NetworkAbilene NetworkJanuary 1999 January 1999

Cleve

land

New York

Atlanta

Indianapolis

Kansas City

Houston

Denver

Los Angeles

Sacramento

Seattle

Abilene Router Node

Abilene Access Node

Operational January 1999

Planned 1999

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New Concept: Abilene/Internet2 + New Concept: Abilene/Internet2 + NEXRADNEXRAD

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NCEP

NCDC

OU

NCAR/FSL

U-WA


AWC

TPC

Radars Now Delivering DataRadars Now Delivering Data

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Links to be Established by This Time Next Links to be Established by This Time Next YearYear

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Using the Data for AviationUsing the Data for Aviation

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Weather Hazard Detection: FAA Weather Hazard Detection: FAA Earmark Funding to CAPSEarmark Funding to CAPS

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Some ExamplesSome Examples

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GOES Visible, 2245 Z4 June 1998

KFWS Composite Reflectivity00 Z, 4 June 1998

Sample Aviation ProductsSample Aviation Products

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Cloud Type and LWCat FL 050

Cloud Type and LWCat FL 320

Cloud Type and LWCN/S X-Section

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Downburst Potential Surface Isotachs &Streamlines

CAPE & Helicity


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Surface Visibility Clear-Air Turbulence Icing Potential



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Statistical Climatologies of Storm Statistical Climatologies of Storm Characteristics (location, intensity, Characteristics (location, intensity,

movement, initiation, decay) relative to movement, initiation, decay) relative to NAS assetsNAS assets

Pugh (2000)

Mitchell et al. (2000)

Mitchell et al. (2000)

The Future: FAA RadarsThe Future: FAA Radars The CRAFT concept can be extended The CRAFT concept can be extended

to include FAA radars that process to include FAA radars that process weather informationweather information– TDWR (terminal Doppler weather radar)TDWR (terminal Doppler weather radar)– ASR (airport surveillance radar)ASR (airport surveillance radar)– ARSR (air route surveillance radar)ARSR (air route surveillance radar)

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TDWRTDWR

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Weber (2000)

Airport Surveillance Radars Airport Surveillance Radars (ASR-9)(ASR-9)

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Weber (2000)


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Weber (2000)


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Weber (2000)

Air Route Surveillance Radars Air Route Surveillance Radars (ARSR-4)(ARSR-4)

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Weber (2000)

An integrated, national data set of highly An integrated, national data set of highly detailed weather radar information for use indetailed weather radar information for use in– Numerical weather predictionNumerical weather prediction– Real time air traffic control and planningReal time air traffic control and planning– Research of specific relevance to aviationResearch of specific relevance to aviation

The radar data can be used to create The radar data can be used to create “assimilated” data sets that provide all “assimilated” data sets that provide all meteorological variables at high resolutionmeteorological variables at high resolution

We’re positioning Norman to serve as a We’re positioning Norman to serve as a national data repository for real time accessnational data repository for real time access

The ResultThe Result

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– NOAA ESDIM Grant funded (CAPS+NSSL+OSF+NCDC)NOAA ESDIM Grant funded (CAPS+NSSL+OSF+NCDC) $540K/3 years$540K/3 years Research ThrustsResearch Thrusts

– Test of direct ingest/archival at NCDCTest of direct ingest/archival at NCDC– Improve compression algorithmsImprove compression algorithms– Initial work on web-based data miningInitial work on web-based data mining

– NOAA earmark funding to OUNOAA earmark funding to OU $474K for 1 year$474K for 1 year Expand CRAFT to 30 radars (CRAFT-2)Expand CRAFT to 30 radars (CRAFT-2) Develop data assimilation capabilities for the WRF modelDevelop data assimilation capabilities for the WRF model Kelvin doing a mini-sabbatical at the NSSL this fallKelvin doing a mini-sabbatical at the NSSL this fall

– HPCC Proposal ($150K for 1 year, about to be funded)HPCC Proposal ($150K for 1 year, about to be funded) Data miningData mining Network quality of service researchNetwork quality of service research Hardware for additional radarsHardware for additional radars

Funding StatusFunding Status

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– FAA earmark funding to OUFAA earmark funding to OU $250K for 1 year$250K for 1 year Assimilate data from multiple radarsAssimilate data from multiple radars Provide real-time aviation hazard productsProvide real-time aviation hazard products A collaboration with the SPC and AWCA collaboration with the SPC and AWC Hope to involve NCAR (say via the National Hope to involve NCAR (say via the National

Convective Forecast Product)Convective Forecast Product) Fits into the CCFP?Fits into the CCFP?

Funding StatusFunding Status

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The Oklahoma meteorological community is ideally The Oklahoma meteorological community is ideally poised to take the lead in bringing the FAA radars poised to take the lead in bringing the FAA radars into Project CRAFTinto Project CRAFT

Will involve collaboration with others (MIT/LL, Will involve collaboration with others (MIT/LL, NCAR)NCAR)

The need has been recognized (Weber, 2000)The need has been recognized (Weber, 2000) A proof-of-concept test is needed (cost will be A proof-of-concept test is needed (cost will be

minimal)minimal) Could begin with OKC TDWR and extend to other Could begin with OKC TDWR and extend to other

systems (one ASR-9, one ASR-11, one ARSR-4)systems (one ASR-9, one ASR-11, one ARSR-4) The FAA earmark grant could be used to add a The FAA earmark grant could be used to add a

TDWR to the CRAFT data in the real time TDWR to the CRAFT data in the real time assimilated data setsassimilated data sets

Develop a white paper and establish collaborationsDevelop a white paper and establish collaborations

The Next StepsThe Next Steps

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Documents

Acquisition and Use of NEXRAD and FAA Doppler Weather Radar Data Presented to the Monroney Aeronautical Center 9 November 2000 Kelvin K. Droegemeier Center