Atmospheric Visualization Collections

Atmospheric Visualization-A Collection at the NSDL

Near real time remote sensing of the atmosphere to provide high resolution input for Global Climate Models.

The Collection seeks to share this data with an audience ofeducators, students and scientists to teach and learn about the

earth’s atmosphere.

1. Data shared allowing inquiry based investigations2. Lesson plans for all levels: K-16 with standards3. Research investigations for University and graduate level4. Authorship opportunities utilizing a Wiki server: The Sandbox5. Community of users contribute local data6. Ongoing assessment and evaluation opportunities

Goals of the NSDL AVC

Where does the data come from?

1. SGP- Southern Great Plains- Oklahoma2. NSA- Northern Slope of Alaska- Alaska3. TWP- Tropical West Pacific- Nauru

NSA

SGP

TWP

Instruments at SGP

SGP Site in Lamont

RWP Ariel views.

Ideal land-air interface.

Instruments at NSA

North Slope of Alaska Site

IdealIce-airInterface.

Typical transportation.

Tropical Western Pacific:Nauru Site

Ideal water-air interface.

Geophysical Focus Area Interface

Educationally friendly user interface to data images

Annotated example images

Documentation to enable use by researchers or educators

I. Comparative historical analysis.Can participate in local, ARM, and global analysisi.e. local cloud formation contrasted with SGP and NSA.

II. Correlation analysis data reduction.For robust, stable and deep data, significant parametric trends can be identified,i.e. for CAPE > 3000 J/kg significant storms can develop.

III. Causal modeling of the atmosphere.Apply the laws of physics and chemistry tounderstand weather phenomena, Navior-Stokes nonlinear PDEs

Effective Investigative Learning with ARM Data at AVC

Cloud Radar Image

1.Frequency from historical data.2. For your location, latitude, longitude and elevation,what is the average seasonal rainfall, wind speedcloud cover and solar irradiance?3. How often are melting layers formed?4. Are precipitation and melting layers correlated?5. Does the BBSS indicate conditions for ice?6. Is the formation of a melting layer related to storm severity?7. Do CAPE values indicate precipitation?8. Does horizontal wind speed related to storm activity?

Investigating Clouds

Cloud identification and classification

Anomalous Features

Evidence of a layer?

When?

Where?

No meltinglayer?

Horizontal wind speed?

How do snowflakes form?

Construct a lesson plan around the generation of snowflakes.

Details of a specific storm:1. How is the boundary of a cloud defined?2. Does Vceil indicate clouds where MMCR boundaries appear?3. Does the BBSS indicate cloud formation in the correct region?4. How does could height, rainfall and location relate to storm formation?5. Do vertical winds from RWP match storm severity?6. Does the theoretical prediction for cloud formation match cloud location? Basic result: h = 125 (T-Td) for ground based observer.

Cloud Boundaries

Conditions for Storm formation: Making a Cloud

Extreme CAPEOn 6-21-01

Convective Available Potential Energy: CAPE

Skew-T thermodynamic diagram from BBSS

Energy of the Vertical Moving Parcel

dzgT

TT

dzgTTT

kg

JdzkF

mm

rdF

m

E

f

i f

fp

p

f

i pf

f

i

f

i

E

E

E

111

ˆ1

Area between T of theparcel and the fiducialAdiabat given by Normand’sTheorem.

Lightning and storm formation.

Irradiance and the Energy Budget

Solar Infrared Radiation Station: two probes:SW- short wavelength: 0.3-3micronsLW-Long wavelength:4-50 micronsDownwelling: red color- radiation received by the earthUpwelling: black color-radiation directed upwards from the earth’s surface

1. For your location, longitude, latitude and elevation, what are the seasonal or monthly variations in temperature?2. Does upwelling or downwelling ever equal 0.0 W/m2?3. Is there a diurnal variation in the upwelling and downwelling?4. Are the season maxima different?5. Are the geographic maxima different?6. In what way do storm and clouds impact upwelling and downwelling?

7. Do clouds form periodically at NSA, TWP or SGP as seen by Vceil?

Conservation of Energy- the atmospheric energy budget

Ideal Black Body radiation curves and visible spectrum

wavelength

Radar Wind ProfilerVertical and Horizontal wind speed

Radiometer reading varywith storm activity.

System of Equations:

),,,(),,,(

0),,(

~

~

~12

~

tzyxatTPvFind

TPF

vdt

d

fvPdt

dTC

fr

rgPrvvv

t

v

V

Convert to an iterative map and look in phase space

Investigations can be tailored for students and may involve:

1. Local measurements with standard equipment or weather station,2. ARM data and Quicklooks allow student investigations with data,3. NOAA data and internet based weather maps lead towards GCM.

Conclusion