Introduction toThe Hazardous Weather Testbed
Norman, Oklahoma
What is the Hazardous Weather What is the Hazardous Weather Testbed?Testbed?
Mission…
NOAA’s Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) accelerates the transition of promising new meteorological insights and technologies into advances in forecasting and warning for hazardous mesoscale weather events in the United States.
What is the Hazardous Weather What is the Hazardous Weather Testbed?Testbed?
NSSL and NWS collaborationNSSL and NWS collaboration
Combines operations, research.Combines operations, research.
Includes visiting forecaster/scientist Includes visiting forecaster/scientist program.program.
VORTEX, IHOP, JPOL, etc.VORTEX, IHOP, JPOL, etc.
Collocates:Collocates:
NSSL, SPC, WFO OUN, NSSL, SPC, WFO OUN, WDTB, ROC, and Univ. WDTB, ROC, and Univ. of Oklahoma of Oklahoma Meteorology UnitsMeteorology Units
Occupancy Occupancy Summer 2006Summer 2006
Norman, Oklahoma
Experimental
Warning
Program
Experimental
Forecast
Program
Two Main Program Areas…
The NOAA The NOAA Hazardous Weather TestbedHazardous Weather Testbed
EFP: Emphasizes diagnosis and modeling to forecast mesoscale hazards.
EWP: Emphasizes diagnosis and modeling to warn for storm scale hazards.
NWC 2NWC 2ndnd Floor Floor
NWC 2NWC 2ndnd Floor Hazardous Floor Hazardous Weather Testbed AreaWeather Testbed Area
Media room
Movable wall (electronic)
16 work areas
2 plasma monitors
2 projectors / screens
HWT
SPC
WFO
NWC 2NWC 2ndnd Floor: Floor: research-to-operationsresearch-to-operations
Stage I:Research at
NSSL, elsewhere
Stage II: “Alpha” Testing, proof-of-concept, warning ops simulations
Stage III: “Beta” Testing
Forecasters from throughout the NWS
NSSL scientists and software developers
WDTB trainers
Researchers from other institutions
International scientists and forecasters
Others…
Who will be involved?Who will be involved?
Why Norman?Why Norman?
Can conduct forecast and warning experiments in real-time for any part of the contiguous 48 states: AWIPS / NAWIPS
Satellite, Level II radar, numerical models, obs “Warn-on-forecast” storm-scale models Warning Decision Support System –
Integrated Information (WDSS-II)
Why Norman?Why Norman?Can also expose more people to developmental platforms in real-time:
- Phased array radar - Polarimetric radar - CASA radar - 3D lightning mapping array
We have a lot of experience with experiments in Norman: - DOPLIGHT (1984-1987) - Norman Experimental Forecast Facility (1987-1993) - Warning Decision Support System (WDSS) (1993-1999) - WDSS-II (2002-present) - NSSL – SPC Spring Programs - Joint Polarization Experiment (JPOLE) (2002-2003)
Component of the NOAA Hazardous Weather Testbed
WFO-scale collaboration among forecasters, researchers and trainers
0-2 hour hazardous weather forecast & warning projects for nation
Emphasis on convective weather
Joint initiative of the NWS and the NSSL
What is the Experimental Warning What is the Experimental Warning Program?Program?
Analogous to SPC/NSSL spring program
Forecasters can provide early feedback on latest research tools and ideas
For ideas not yet mature enough for operational beta testing
What is the Experimental Warning What is the Experimental Warning Program?Program?
GoalsGoals
Develop new warning guidance tools from multiple sensors and numerical Cloud-scale models (“warn-on-forecast”) Develop new warning techniques (probabilistic warnings) Develop improved verification techniques / climate record Develop GIS-based applications Develop new visualization techniques
Early EWP ExperimentsEarly EWP Experiments
Probabilistic warnings
AWIPS four-dimensional stormcell investigator (FSI)
WxGIS
High-resolution gridded hail product verification
New platforms: 3D lightning, dual-pol radar
Warn-On-ForecastWarn-On-ForecastCurrently issue warnings based on reports of severe events or detections of features strongly associated with severe weather
Want to issue warnings with longer lead times based on forecast storm morphology
Example: Current non-severe thunderstorm is strengthening and will encounter a pre-existing diffuse boundary, ingesting sufficient horizontal vorticity into the updraft to increase the tornado probability in 50-90 minutes, after which time it will move deep enough into the cold air to end the tornado threat.
Will eventually be driven by storm-scale models
Will test these concepts in EWP without having to interrupt real-time operations at WFOs.
Questions?Questions?