Re-certification Course Spring 2019
Oklahoma’s First-response Information Resource System using Telecommunications
Photo by Eric Nguyen 2 OK-First Contact Information
Who Number Hours Best for:
Mesonet Operator (405) 325-3231 8:00a-7:00p Technical support and data [email protected] weekdays; issues 9:00a-12:00p weekends
James Hocker (405) 325-3230 8:00a-5:00p Questions, suggestions, or [email protected] weekdays comments about the OK-First program; technical support
Robert MacDonald (405) 325-2665 Portions of Questions about scheduling and (student) 8:00a-5:00p upcoming OK-First classes; [email protected] weekdays technical support; general information
Andrea Melvin (405) 325-2652 8:30a-5:00p Technical support; general [email protected] weekdays information
Brad Stanley (405) 325-5270 9:00a-5:00p Technical support [email protected] weekdays
OCS/Mesonet Main (405) 325-2541 8:00a-5:00p Tracking down answers and OK- Office weekdays First people!
Note: Voice mail for OCS Main Office and OCS staff is checked Monday-Friday only
After-Hours Emergencies (405) 364-6364 Data outages and issues outside (Pager) business hours
OK-First Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/okfirst/ (closed group; have to request access)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/okfirstmanager
Mesonet Social Media
3 National Weather Service Norman Critical Information Sheet
Mailing Address: National Weather Service 120 David L. Boren Blvd, Suite 2400 Norman, OK 73072
Website: weather.gov/norman
Twitter: twitter.com/NWSNorman Facebook: facebook.com/NWSNorman YouTube: youtube.com/NWSNorman
Spotter Report E-Mail: [email protected]
Main Phone: 405-325-3816 (can be given to public) Main Fax: 405-325-0901
UNLISTED – Do not distribute! 405-325-3659 (restricted to EM/public safety) or 800-275-1136
NWS Norman Management Team:
Meteorologist in Charge David Andra 405-325-3318 [email protected]
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Rick Smith 405-325-3395 [email protected]
Science and Operations Officer Todd Lindley 405-325-3527 [email protected]
4
National Weather Service Tulsa Critical Information Sheet
Mailing Address: National Weather Service 10159 East 11th Street, Suite 300 Tulsa, OK 74128
Administrative Phone: 918-832-4115 Administrative FAX: 918-832-4101 Unlisted Ops Phone: 918-832-4116 Public Forecast Line: 918-838-7838 (6am to 6pm)
UNLISTED EMERGENCY: 1-800-697-2636 (Restricted Access) SEVERE REPORTS ONLY: 1-800-722-2778 (Can be given to public)
Web Site: weather.gov/tulsa Spotter Report E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: twitter.com/NWSTulsa Facebook: facebook.com/NWSTulsa Youtube: youtube.com/NWSTulsa
NWS Tulsa Management Team:
Meteorologist in Charge Steve Piltz 918-832-4132 (voice mail) [email protected]
Warning Coordination Meteorologist Ed Calianese 918-832-4133 (voice mail) [email protected]
Science and Operations Officer Steve Cobb 918-832-4115 x224 [email protected]
For contact information for additional National Weather Service offices visit: http://www.stormready.noaa.gov/contact.htm
5 Using GOES-16 for Severe Storm and Wildfire Detection
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/ramsdis/online/images/loop_of_the_day/goes- http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp- 16/20170510000000/video/20170510000000_texas.gif content/uploads/2017/03/170307_goes16_shortwaveIR_KS_OK_TX_fires_a nim.gif
What We’ll Cover
1. Satellite Basics – How satellites work 2. GOES-R Series – About the series – Channels, resolution, and scanning modes 3. GOES-16 Applications – Severe storms – Wildfires 4. GOES-16 Data in OK-First
6 Learning Objectives
1. Form a basic understanding of how weather satellites work 2. Understand the improvements associated with GOES-R 3. Become familiar with several key GOES-R channels 4. Be able to identify key storm features in satellite products 5. Be able to identify wildfires in satellite products 6. Know where to find GOES-16 products in OK-First
Satellite Basics
7 Remote Sensing in Meteorology
• Remote Sensing – To measure something at a distance away from a sensor – Different from direct measurements, which are in contact with the object they are measuring (e.g., Mesonet, weather balloons, aircraft, dropsondes, etc.) • Remote Sensing Examples – Satellite – Radar – Lightning detection
2 Primary Types of Meteorological Satellites
• Polar Orbiting Satellites – Not fixed locations à circular, pole-ward orbit (~105 mins) – Orbit at low elevation (~500 miles) – Pros: higher data resolution; global coverage – Cons: cannot provide continuous viewing of same area • Geostationary Satellites – Fixed location over the equator – Higher elevation (22,300 miles) – Pros: observes the same area; high time resolution – Cons: coarser resolution (especially in polar regions)
8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsfcIEmR_b0
Global Satellite Observation System
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/tropical/textbook_2nd_edition/media/graphics/globalsys.jpg
9 How Do Weather Satellites Work?
• Measure electromagnetic radiation from surfaces below using radiometers – Weather satellites do not have cameras • Two kinds of radiometers – Imagers: measure radiation in the visible to infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum – Sounders: measure infrared radiation and provide vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, water vapor, and other trace gases • Data from radiometers are transmitted back to earth for image creation
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Weather satellite imagers measure in this region
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satmet/modules/3_em_radiation/emr-2.html
10 GOES-R Series
Next Generation NOAA Satellites: GOES-R Series
• GOES-R, GOES-S, GOES-T, and GOES-U – Extends operational GOES system through 2036 • GOES-R launched Nov 19, 2016 – Became GOES-16 in orbit & made operational on December 18, 2017 as the new GOES-East • GOES-S – Launch in 2018; will become GOES-17 & replace GOES-West • GOES-T – Launch anticipated in 2020 • GOES-U – Launch date TBD
11 NOAA Geostationary Satellite Programs Continuity of Weather Observations Calendar Year As of March 2017
09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
GOES-13 GOES East 60% Confidence
GOES-14 On-orbit spare 60% Confidence
GOES-15 GOES West 60% Confidence
GOES-16
Click on any bar for current status GOES-S GOES-13 GOES-T GOES-U Fiscal Year
09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
In orbit, operational Planned in-orbit Storage In orbit, storage Planned Mission Life Approved: ______Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services Reliability analysis-based extended weather observation life estimate (60% confidence) for satellites on orbit for a minimum of one year -- Most recent analysis: March 2017
https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/geostationary_weather_march_2017.pdf
GOES-East and GOES-West Locations
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/goes-r_fleet_new6.png
12 Instruments on GOES-R Series Satellites
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/satmet/satfc_g_course/rad_basics/media/graphics/goes_r_instruments_fc.jpg
Primary Weather Instruments on GOES-R Series
• Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) – Primary instrument à views Earth with 16 channels • Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) – First-ever operational lightning mapper in geostationary orbit à measures total lightning activity
https://www.goes-r.gov/spacesegment/abi.html
13 GOES-R Series Imager vs. Previous GOES Imager Technology • 3x More Channels – 16 channels compared to 5 – Includes: 2 Visible, 4 Near Infrared, and 10 Infrared channels • 4x Better Resolution • 5x Faster Scans – Full hemisphere every 15 minutes – Continental U.S. every 5 minutes – 2 mesoscale sectors every 30-60 seconds • 60x More Data from the Satellite – 1 terabyte of data per day!
What It Seems Like!
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/10/article-2259923- http://electronics.retailcatalog.us/products/3108353/large/49ug2500.jpg 16D752A6000005DC-519_634x503.jpg
14 Channels GOES-R Imager Wavelength On Previous Channel Nickname Channel (microns) GOES Imager? 1 0.47 “Blue” Visible No 2 0.64 “Red” Visible � 3 0.86 “Veggie” Near-Infrared (IR) No 4 1.378 “Cirrus” Near-IR No 5 1.61 “Snow/Ice” Near-IR No 6 2.25 “Cloud Particle Size” Near-IR No 7 3.90 “Shortwave Window” IR � 8 6.19 “Upper-level Water Vapor” IR � 9 6.95 “Mid-level Water Vapor” IR No 10 7.34 “Lower-level Water Vapor” IR No 11 8.5 “Cloud-top Phase” IR No 12 9.61 “Ozone” IR No 13 10.35 “Clean Longwave IR Window” No 14 11.2 “Longwave IR Window” � 15 12.3 “Dirty Longwave IR Window” No
16 13.3 “CO2” Longwave IR �
Channels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xfczXsEf1o
15 Recommended Channels
• Channel 2 – “Red” Visible – Daytime monitoring of clouds and smoke – Daytime monitoring of ice/snow cover when clear • Channel 7 – “Shortwave window” Infrared – Fire/hot spot detection • Channel 9 – “Mid-level water vapor” Infrared – Monitoring of mid-level features like troughs and ridges • Channel 13 – “Clean Longwave Infrared Window” – Day and nighttime monitoring of clouds
Resolution
Channels GOES-R Series Imager Previous GOES Imager 0.64 micron Visible 0.5 km ~1 km Other Visible/Near-IR Channels 1 km N/A Channels > 2 microns 2 km ~4 km
https://nasasport.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/imager_comparison.png
16 Faster Scans
Coverage GOES-R Series Imager Previous GOES Imager Full Disk Every 15 minutes Every 3 hours Continental U.S. Every 5 minutes Every ~15 minutes Mesoscale Sectors Every 30 or 60 seconds N/A
https://satelliteliaisonblog.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/20170402_vis_compare2_anno.gif
Faster Scans
https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/19sep17_maria_vis.mp4
17 Scanning Modes
• Multiple scanning modes available – Analogous to different scanning modes for radars • Flex Mode – Full disk every 15 mins – CONUS every 5 mins – 2 mesoscale sectors every 60 secs (or 1 every 30 secs) • Continuous Full Disk Mode – Full disk every 5 mins – Could be used when multiple high impact events are occurring simultaneously (e.g., volcanic eruption, tropical cyclone, and severe storms)
GOES-16 Applications
18 A Multitude of Applications
We’ll focus on these
Monitoring Severe Storms with GOES-16
• Higher resolution over both space and time helps to monitor a variety of features during storm lifecycle: – Pre-storm environment – Storm initiation – Mature severe storm – Storm dissipation • Key products to monitor: – Channel 2: Visible – Channel 13: Clean Longwave Infrared Window
19 Severe Storm Detection: New vs. Old
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp- content/uploads/2017/05/170508_goes16_goes13_visible_Colorado_hail_storm_anim.mp4
Pre-storm Environment
• Features to look for… – Cumulus clouds – Towering cumulus (also called cumulus congestus) – Orphaned anvils – Boundaries
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/satmet/goes16_exercise/media/loops/congestus_orphans_wy_061 217_01/congestus_orphans_wy_061217_01.htm
20 Storm Initiation • Features to look for… – Rapid anvil development – Rapid cloud top cooling
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/satmet/goes16_exercise/navmenu.php?tab=1&page=2-0- 0&type=flash
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/satmet/goes16_exercise/navmenu.php?tab=1&page=3-2- 0&type=flash
21 https://www.meted.ucar.edu/satmet/goes16_exercise/navmenu.php?tab=1&page=3-2- 0&type=flash
Mature Severe Storm
• Features to look for… – Large, cold anvil with sharp edges near updraft – Overshooting top – Enhanced-V signature
22 Overshooting Top
• What is it? – Small area (less than 15 km) of extremely cold clouds protruding above the anvil • What causes it? – Very strong updraft – The updraft is so strong and the air has so much momentum that it briefly enters the stable layer atop the troposphere • Look for… – Visible: small area of “bumpy” clouds embedded in anvil – Infrared: extremely cold cloud tops embedded in the anvil
https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I00006R4L.JUlOQg/s/860/688/wsi-cld027a.jpg
23 Overshooting Top
https://www.meted.ucar.edu/satmet/goes16_exercise/navmenu.php?tab=1&page=2-0- 0&type=flash
Enhanced-V Signature • What is it? – A V-shaped region of colder cloud tops extending downwind from the storm updraft • What causes it? – A very strong updraft that acts like an obstruction and forces winds at the top of the troposphere around it – It is analogous to the “V-Notch” seen in radar reflectivity – A warm “wake” can be observed just downwind of the updraft • Look for… – A cold overshooting top, which forms the base of the Enhanced-V
24 Enhanced-V Signature
https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/snaap/enhanced-v/enh-v_fig2cw.png
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visi t/loops/16apr17/ir&loop_speed_ms=80
25 Other Features You May See at Times
• Low level inflow – lines of low clouds that feed into the updraft of a storm (usually from S or E) • Flanking line – organized lifting zone of cumulus and towering cumulus connected to a mature updraft
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/ramsdis/online/images/loop_of_the_day/goes- 16/20170516000000/video/20170516000000_storms.gif
Storm Dissipation
• Features to look for… – Loss of overshooting top and enhanced-V features – Warming cloud tops – Eroding anvil cloud shield
26 Storm Dissipation
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visit/loops/8jun17/B02&loop_speed_ms=100%20
Storm Dissipation
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visit/loops/8jun17/B13&loop_speed_ms=100
27 Monitoring Wildfires with GOES-16
• Higher resolution over both space and time supports: – Earlier detection of fires – Detection of smaller fires • Hotter fires can be more accurately described – Due to a higher saturation temp (410K vs. 340K) • More accurate pixel locations – Greatly reduces “jumpiness” in animations • Key products to monitor: – Channel 7: Shortwave Window Infrared – look for hot spots – Channel 2: Visible – look for smoke plumes
Wildfire Detection Example 1: New vs. Old (Shortwave Window IR)
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/170306- 07_goes16_goes13_shortwaveIR_KS_OK_TX_fires_anim.mp4
28 Wildfire Detection Example 2: New vs. Old (Shortwave Window IR)
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp- content/uploads/2017/04/170411_goes16_goes13_shortwave_infrared_KS_fires_anim.gif
Wildfire Detection Example 2: New vs. Old (Visible)
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp- content/uploads/2017/04/170411_goes16_goes13_visible_surface_visibility_KS_fires_anim.gif
29 Wildfire Detection Example 3 (2 visible, 1 IR)
Channel 1 (“blue” visible)
Channel 2 (“red” visible)
Channel 7 (“shortwave window” IR)
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp- content/uploads/2017/04/170425_goes16_visible_shortwaveIR_GA_fires_zoom_anim.gif
GOES-16 Data in OK-First
30 GOES-16 Data in OK-First
• GOES-16 products are available in the OK-First Wx Briefing page under Wx Data à Satellite, including: – Visible (channel 2) – Mid-level water vapor (channel 9) – Clean longwave IR (channel 13) • Hot spot detection is available under Wx Hazard à Fire Weather – Shortwave window IR (channel 7) • Other good sources for viewing satellite products are provided as external links
GOES-16 Products on OK-First Wx Briefing
31 GOES-16 Products on OK-First Wx Briefing
Using GOES-16 for Severe Storm and Wildfire Detection Summary • Weather satellites are… – A remote sensing technology that measures radiation in the visible to infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum • The GOES-R series… – Consists of 4 geostationary satellites (R, S, T, and U) that will extend the lifespan of the GOES program through 2036 – Has 3x more channels, 4x more resolution, and 5x faster scans compared to previous satellites • GOES-16… – Is the new GOES-East satellite that covers Oklahoma
32 Using GOES-16 for Severe Storm and Wildfire Detection Summary • GOES-16 can be used in storm events to identify… – A variety of pre-storm, storm initiation, severe storm, and storm dissipation features in the visible and IR channels – Visible Channel: towering cumulus, anvils, overshooting tops, etc. – Clean Longwave Infrared Channel: Enhanced-V, overshooting tops, anvils, cloud temps, etc. • GOES-16 can be used in wildfire events to identify… – Smoke plumes in visible & hot spots in shortwave infrared • GOES-16 satellite products… – Are available via OK-First and other providers
References
• http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/visit/training_sessio ns/basic_operations_of_abi_on_goes_r/ • http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/visit/training_sessio ns/satfc_g_orientation/shymet/ • https://www.meted.ucar.edu/goes_r/abi/index.htm • https://www.meted.ucar.edu/satmet/goes16_exercise/index. htm • https://www.goes-r.gov/downloads/tri-brochure.pdf • https://www.goes-r.gov/spacesegment/abi.html • https://www.nasa.gov/content/goes-r/index.html • http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/ • http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/training/visit/blog/
33 Cheat Sheets
Initiating and Mature Severe Storms GOES-16 Channel 2 – Visible Initiating storms
Anvil
Boundary with towering Orphan anvil cumulus Overshooting top
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/ramsdis/online/images/loop_of_the_day/goes- 16/20170518000000/video/20170518000000_ok.mp4
34 Initiating and Mature Severe Storms GOES-16 Channel 13 – Clean Longwave Infrared Window
Anvil Initiating storm
Overshooting Enhanced-V top
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=training/visi t/loops/16apr17/ir&loop_speed_ms=80
Dissipating Severe Storms
GOES-16 Channel 2 – Visible GOES-16 Channel 13 – Clean Longwave Infrared Window
Eroding anvil cloud shield Warming cloud tops
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=trainin http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/templates/loop_directory.asp?data_folder=trai g/visit/loops/8jun17/B02&loop_speed_ms=100%20 ning/visit/loops/8jun17/B13&loop_speed_ms=100
35 Fire Detection GOES-16 Channel 2 – Visible GOES-16 Channel 7 – Shortwave Window Infrared
Hot spots
Smoke plumes
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp- content/uploads/2017/07/958x638_GOES16A_B27_G16_VIS_SWIR_CA _FIRES_08JUL2017_2017190_024718_0002PANELS.GIF
Questions?!
http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/ramsdis/online/images/loop_of_the_day/goes-16/20170510000000/video/20170510000000_texas.gif
36 Radar Pro Tips
Motivation
• Past OK-First classes… – We have focused significantly on radar limitations – Limitations are important to be aware of and help form a good foundation of radar knowledge • Today we would like to build on that foundation… – By focusing on a set of tips that will help you be better users of radar information • Our Goal: To take your radar skills to the next level!
37 Remember, your “crap app” doesn’t make decisions…you do!
Introducing the official… OK-First Radar Pro Tips!
Motion
If you’re here, what is your most imminent threat?
38 How about now?
Motion
If you’re here, what is your most imminent threat?
39 How about now?
Radar Pro Tip #1: Use Radar Data in Concert with Other Datasets
• If you are viewing radar data in isolation… – You are not fully situationally aware – You could be missing out on other hazards entirely • Good datasets to view alongside radar data… – Mesonet data – Lightning data – Satellite data
40 What features in this loop concern you most?
What about this feature?
41 Marks location of major wind shift. NWS severe t-storm warning indicates 70 mph wind gusts.
42 Radar Pro Tip #2: Every Pixel Matters
• We are naturally drawn to… – The brightest colors in radar • But subtle radar features can be just as important and they provide clues on potential hazards – Fine lines à wind shift/strong winds – Smoke plumes à presence of a large fire – Hail spikes à likelihood of hail in a storm – Inflow notches à possibility of a developing tornado – Rear-inflow notches à strong winds
Which location are you the most worried about?
43 How about now?
Radar Pro Tip #3: Misconception By Advection
• Misconception by advection is… – A false sense that what you are seeing now will continue without change • Storms do not maintain the same… – Intensity, shape, size, speed, and direction throughout their lifecycle • Remain vigilant and keep watching data throughout to see how things change
44 Storms are expected to initiate in central Oklahoma late afternoon on this day…have they started yet?
Looking at additional tilts provides more insight
45 Radar Pro Tip #4: You Have Many Products & Tilts – Use Them!
• It’s not just about Reflectivity Tilt 1, you also have… – Tilts 2, 3, and 4 – Storms develop vertically and tend to show up on higher tilts first • And if you only stay on Reflectivity, you are missing out on… – Velocity products – Precipitation estimate products – Dual-polarization products
Location of Features May Vary From Where Radar Identifies Them
Tilted Storm
Rotation aloft may be displaced from low-level rotation by several miles
Image Source: https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/thunderstorms/types/img/classic_supercell.jpg https://www.speedhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/spiral.png
46 Radar Pro Tip #5: Radar Echoes Are At Beam Height
• Due to the radar beam increasing with height away from the radar… – Items observed by the radar are located at beam height and NOT at the ground • Also keep in mind that many severe storms are tilted… – So their features on radar are displaced horizontally from where they are occurring at the surface
Watch this loop
47 Now watch this loop à what’s different about them?
Radar Pro Tip #6: Radar Is Always a Step Behind
• Using radar data is like watching live TV on a several minute delay – Always assume what you are seeing is already 5 or more minutes behind • Higher tilts will lag even more than tilt 1 – Due to more rapid scanning at tilt 1 • Lean heavily on spotters in your area for accurate location information – They are seeing live while radar is always a step behind
48 Radar Pro Tips Summary • The following 6 radar pro tips will help you be better users of radar data… – Pro Tip #1: Use radar data in concert with other datasets – Pro Tip #2: Every pixel matters – Pro Tip #3: Misconception by advection – Pro Tip #4: You have many products & tilts – use them! – Pro Tip #5: Radar echoes are at beam height – Pro Tip #6: Radar is always a step behind • Remember, radar data are just a bunch of colors… – You are the one providing value by making decisions from the data
49 Quasi-Linear Convective Systems (QLCSs)
What We’ll Cover
1. Introduction to QLCSs – What they are, typical hazards, where and when they are most common 2. QLCS Mesovortices – What they are, hazards they produce, tornadoes 3. Monitoring QLCSs with Radar – Bowing segments – Bookend vortices – Mesovortices – Inflow notches – Rear inflow notches
50 Learning Objectives
1. Become familiar with QLCSs and the hazards they typically produce 2. Understand what mesovortices are and what hazards they produce 3. Become familiar with different QLCS radar features to watch for in reflectivity and velocity
What’s with the Name QLCS?
• No, this isn’t about baseball… • Stands for Quasi-Linear Convective System – The popular scientific “catch all” term these days for squall lines, bow echoes, and other storms that resemble lines – Since many convective systems contain portions that are not very straight, “quasi-linear” has become the more flexible term to describe all of them
51 Examples of QLCSs
About QLCSs • Typical Hazards – Strong to severe wind gusts, very heavy rain, lots of lightning, and hail (commonly under 1 inch) • Less Common Hazards – Tornadoes (usually EF0-EF2) • Timing – Tend to occur in the late evening into overnight hours after storms have merged • Where do they occur most frequently in OK? – Eastern Oklahoma
52 Radar-Based Climatology of Oklahoma Squall Lines (1994-2003)
(Hocker and Basara 2008)
Radar-Based Climatology of Oklahoma Squall Lines (1994-2003)
Peak starting times (Hocker and Basara 2008) (~9p to ~1a)
53 QLCS Development
• QLCS formation: – Occurs when storm downdrafts combine to form a large pool of cool air at the surface • QLCS maturation: – The system grows in size with additional downdrafts increasing the size of the pool of cool air at the ground
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_echo #/media/File:Bow_echo_diagram.svg
54 QLCS Features
• Bow echo: A bow-shaped line of storms that produces strong winds • Bookend vortex: a circulation at the end of a line of storms • Rear inflow notch: reduced reflectivity due to the “rear inflow jet” • Mesovortices: small scale circulations on the leading edge Rear inflow notch
Possible Mesovortices
Bow echo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_echo #/media/File:Bow_echo_diagram.svg Bookend vortices
Cross-Section View of a QLCS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rear-inflow_jet#/media/File:Ligne_de_grain.svg
55 QLCS Mesovortices
QLCS Mesovortices
• What are they? – Mesovortices are areas of rotation 1 to 12 miles in size that last for up to an hour and occur within the lowest 1 mile of the atmosphere (Weisman and Trapp 2003) • Where do they occur? – Along the leading edge of QLCSs, such as: • Along, north, or south of a bow echo apex • Inflow notch areas • Intersection of QLCS and outflow boundaries • Their impacts: – Can enhance straight-line winds at the ground – Sometimes produce brief tornadoes
56 Impacts of Mesovortices on Surface Winds
“rear inflow jet”
(Atkins and St. Laurent 2009)
QLCS Mesovortices and High Winds Go Together
• 95 mph at El Reno on 3/28/17 – 2nd highest Mesonet wind gust in 2017 • 87 mph at Copan on 4/26/16 – Probable mesovortex – 2nd highest Mesonet wind gust in 2016 • 99 mph at Red Rock on 11/17/15 – Highest Mesonet wind gust in 2015 • 106 mph at Burneyville on 7/30/14 – Highest Mesonet wind gust in 2014
57 Tornadoes from QLCS Mesovortices • Only some QLCS mesovortices produce tornadoes – More likely if there is tight/strong rotation on radar that can be seen on multiple tilts • Extremely rapid formation and short-lived – Mean lead time on radar of 5 minutes (Trapp et al. 1999) – Commonly persist for less than 10 minutes • Most commonly EF0-EF2 – Less than 5% of EF3-EF5 tornadoes are produced by non- supercells (Smith et al. 2012) • Occur on the leading edge of QLCSs
Monitoring QLCSs on Radar • Pro Tips: 1. View reflectivity and velocity together 2. Not sure if you see rotation? Check storm-relative velocity! 3. Expect features to change rapidly • Features to watch for: – Bowing segments • Associated with strong winds – Inflow notches on the leading edge of the QLCS • Could be indicative of an updraft and a mesovortex (verify in velocity) – Rear inflow notches on the back side of QLCS • Can lead to strong winds and mesovortex enhancement – Outflow boundaries
58 Monitoring QLCSs on Radar Example 1: Classic Bow Echo
Bow echo! Strongest winds
Bow Apex
Monitoring QLCSs on Radar Example 1: Classic Bow Echo
Inflow notches Mesovortices
59 Monitoring QLCSs on Radar Example 2: Strong Rear Inflow Jet
Bowing segment Very strong winds
Monitoring QLCSs on Radar Example 2: Strong Rear Inflow Jet
Inflow notch Mesovortex
Rear inflow notch Strong winds from rear inflow jet
60 Monitoring QLCSs on Radar Example 3: QLCS/Supercell Hybrid
Outflow boundary
Monitoring QLCSs on Radar Example 3: QLCS/Supercell Hybrid
Inflow notch
Outflow Tornadic boundary mesovortex
61 Additional Considerations from the NWS (from Vivek Mahale, NWS Norman)
• More mesovortices are detected today… – Due to super resolution radar, more frequent radar scanning, and airport radars (Terminal Doppler Weather Radars) • Additional wording can be used in warnings to highlight wind threat… – In the absence of strong gate-to-gate shear or a tornado debris signature, the NWS can convey enhanced wind damage potential and/or use the “tornado possible” tag in impact-based severe thunderstorm warnings and statements
November 17, 2015 Example
SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK STILLWATER...PONCA CITY...GUTHRIE...BLACKWELL...PERRY...TONKAWA... 207 AM CST TUE NOV 17 2015 PERKINS...NEWKIRK...LANGSTON...MORRISON...CARNEY...GLENCOE...TRYON. ..RIPLEY...KAW CITY...COYLE...CEDAR VALLEY...RED ROCK...MULHALL AND OKC071-081-083-103-119-170830- MARLAND. /O.CON.KOUN.SV.W.0653.000000T0000Z-151117T0830Z/ KAY OK-LOGAN OK-LINCOLN OK-NOBLE OK-PAYNE OK- PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 207 AM CST TUE NOV 17 2015 REMAIN ALERT FOR A POSSIBLE TORNADO! TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 230 QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. AM CST FOR KAY...LOGAN...NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN...NOBLE AND PAYNE COUNTIES... FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A AT 206 AM CST...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A BUILDING. LINE EXTENDING FROM NEAR CHILOCCO TO NEAR SOONER LAKE TO NEAR && MERIDIAN...MOVING EAST-NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO BE ACROSS EASTERN KAY COUNTY... BUT LAT...LON 3678 9675 3674 9683 3675 9689 3668 9693 DAMAGING WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THIS ENTIRE LINE. 3668 9706 3659 9706 3660 9691 3658 9689 3651 9703 3633 9703 3633 9692 3625 9692 THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS STORMS. 3624 9682 3574 9702 3573 9766 3642 9724 3698 9737 3700 9675 HAZARD...80 MPH WIND GUSTS. TIME...MOT...LOC 0806Z 256DEG 44KT 3697 9712 3640 9695 3584 9727
SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED. TORNADO...POSSIBLE HAIL...<.75IN IMPACT...FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE CAUGHT WIND...80MPH WITHOUT SHELTER. MOBILE HOMES WILL BE HEAVILY DAMAGED. EXPECT CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES. EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE AND POWER OUTAGES ARE LIKELY.
62 Quasi-Linear Convective System (QLCS) Summary
• QLCSs are… – Squall lines and other storms that resemble lines – Accompanied by high winds, heavy rain, frequent lightning, and sometimes tornadoes – Most common in eastern Oklahoma – Commonly getting underway between 9p and 1a • Mesovortices are low level areas of rotation that… – Form at the leading edge of a QLCS – Can enhance straight-line winds at the surface – Sometimes produce tornadoes
Quasi-Linear Convective System (QLCS) Summary
• QLCS tornadoes… – Develop extremely rapidly – Are short lived – Are most commonly EF0-EF2s • QLCS features to watch for on radar: – Bowing segments – Bookend vortices – Mesovortices – Inflow notches on the leading edge – Rear inflow notches on the back side – Outflow boundaries
63 References
• Atkins, N. T., and M. St. Laurent, 2009: Bow Echo Mesovortices. Part 1: Processes That Influence Their Damage Potential. Mon. Wea. Rev., 137, 1514-1532. • Hocker, J. E., and J. B. Basara, 2008: A 10-year spatial climatology of squall line storms across Oklahoma. Int. J. Climatology, 28, 765–775. • Smith, B. T., R. L. Thompson, J. S. Grams, and C. Broyles, 2012: Convective modes for significant severe thunderstorms in the contiguous United States. Part I: Storm classification and climatology. Wea. Forecasting, 27, 1114-1135. • Trapp, R. J., E. D. Mitchell, G. A. Tipton, D. W. Effertz, A. I. Watson, D. L. Andra Jr., and M. A. Magsig, 1999: Descending and nondescending tornadic vortex signature. Wea. Forecasting, 24, 625-639. • Weisman, M. L., and R. J. Trapp, 2003: Low-level mesovortices within squall lines and bow echoes. Part II: Their genesis and implications. Mon. Wea. Rev., 131, 2804-2823.
64 Lab: Monitoring QLCS Events with Radar
Objective:
In this lab exercise we will investigate several different QLCS events and practice identifying different radar features including: bowing segments, mesovortices, inflow notches, rear inflow notches, and outflow boundaries.
Instructions:
You will need to use the latest version of RadarFirst to complete this lab. Please read each question carefully and answer them as best you can in the space provided. You are welcome to work on your own or in a group.
Note: The instructions in this exercise are for the Windows version of RadarFirst. The Mac version is similar but some functions (like short cuts) are not available. Please ask us if you have any questions.
Region of Focus for this Exercise:
The different parts of this lab exercise will focus on different locations. Follow the directions in each part closely.
Terminology:
The following are definitions of several terms relevant to this exercise:
• Base Reflectivity – Return signal to the radar that indicates the location and intensity of particles in the atmosphere such as rain, hail, snow, or other targets (such as bugs, buildings, trees, and other non-weather items). The more intense or reflective the ‘echo’, the higher the reflectivity value. • Base Velocity – Return signal to the radar indicating the velocity of a target toward or away from the radar beam. Much like a radar gun used in baseball, weather radar can only fully see targets moving directly toward or away from it. When winds become perpendicular to the radar beam, the radar can no longer see them. • Bookend Vortex – An area of rotation at the end of a QLCS. A bookend vortex on the northern end of a line typically rotates counterclockwise; the vortex on the southern end typically rotates clockwise. • Bow Echo – A bow-shaped line of thunderstorms that is often associated with swaths of damaging straight-line winds and sometimes tornadoes. • Fine Line – A subtle radar reflectivity feature that marks the location of fronts and boundaries (such as cold fronts, dry lines, and outflow boundaries). Fine lines are most
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easily observed close to a radar since due to the low-level nature of fronts and boundaries. • Inflow Notch – A radar reflectivity feature associated with inflow into a thunderstorm that resembles a small bite taken out of the storm. • Mesovortex – An area of rotation 1 to 12 miles in size that lasts for up to an hour and occurs within the lowest 1 mile of the atmosphere. Mesovortices can enhance straight- line winds at the ground and sometimes produce brief tornadoes. • Outflow boundary – A surface boundary formed by the spreading out of thunderstorm- cooled air. These features appear in radar reflectivity as something called a “fine line.” • Quasi-Linear Convective System (QLCS) – A contiguous area of thunderstorms in a semi-linear orientation that is associated with heavy rain and high winds. The word quasi emphasizes that these systems do not have to be perfectly straight, but rather can be “kind of” straight. • Rear Inflow Jet – A relatively strong current of air that travels from the weaker precipitation area behind a QLCS towards the front. • Storm Relative Velocity – Similar to Base Velocity, except that it subtracts off the speed of the weather phenomena. This is particularly useful for diagnosing rotation in storms when they are moving very fast (such as 40+ mph) or when the rotation is weak.
RadarFirst Cheat Sheet:
• To zoom in – Double left mouse click, mouse scroll wheel, or finger pinch apart (touch screens only). Additional town names will appear as you zoom in. • To zoom out – Double right mouse click, mouse scroll wheel, or finger pinch together (touch screens only). Fewer town names will appear as you zoom out. • To pan the map – Click and drag with a left mouse click or finger touch and drag (touch screens only) • To change the date or time – At the top of the RadarFirst window click “Edit” and then “Date…”. From there you can change the date and time as needed. Click “Set Date” to apply your changes. (Short cut: Shift D) • To animate – At the bottom of the window click the large triangle for a 1-hour loop. If you would like to animate more than 1 hour click the “2” or “3” that appear further to the right. (Short cut: Space bar) • To change radar product – Next to the time at the top of the RadarFirst window click the abbreviated radar product name (such as “BREF1”) to open the product selection menu. From there click the product you need to view. • To change the radar site – At the top of the RadarFirst window click the radar site name (such as “KTLX – Oklahoma City”) to open the radar selection menu. From the map that appears you can select the radar you need to view. • To activate 2 panel mode – At the top of the RadarFirst window click “View” and then “Two Panes”. (Short cut: Shift 1 or 2)
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Part 1: March 28, 2017 Event (Southwest and Central OK)
Open the RadarFirst software and change your site to the Frederick, OK radar (KFDR). Next, go to Edit à Date... (short cut Shift D) and change the date to 3/28/2017 and the time to 7:00 PM and then click Set Date. View the data in 2-pane mode (View à Two Pane or use short cut Shift 2). Make sure cities are visible on the map (Edit à Options… à Cities and Towns or use short cut Shift C). Load “BREF1” in the left pane and “BVEL1” in the right pane. Please hide Tornado, Severe Storm, and Flash Flood Warnings (Edit à Options… à uncheck Warnings or use short cut Shift W).
Question 1. Focus your attention on the line of storms in SW Oklahoma along the Red River. What do we call the storm feature in Base Reflectivity (left pane) just west of the radar (in Frederick, OK) that appears to stick out further? What hazard is usually associated with these?
Question 2. Hit the play button to animate radar data for 1-hour and watch the storms evolve. There is an interesting QLCS feature in Base Reflectivity that travels over Chillicothe, TX and then north and east towards Elmer, OK. What is it called? What do you see happening in Base Velocity where this feature is?
Stop the animation, change the time to 9:03 PM (Edit à Date…), and change your radar to Oklahoma City (KTLX).
Question 3. The bowing segment that was in SW OK at 7 PM is now near El Reno. At 9:03 PM what reflectivity feature do you see SW of El Reno (near Hinton)? What causes it?
Question 4. Looking at Base Velocity at 9:03 PM, what feature appears just to the NW of El Reno? What feature do you notice in Base Reflectivity at the same location?
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Part 2: August 6, 2017 Event (Northeast Oklahoma)
Change your radar site to the Tulsa, OK (KINX) radar. Go to Edit à Date... (Short cut Shift D) and change the date to 8/6/2017 and the time to 1:15 AM. Make sure “BREF1” is in the left pane and “BVEL1” is in the right pane.
Question 5. Hit the play button to animate radar data for 1-hour (12:16 AM to 1:15 AM). What QLCS radar feature do you see in Base Reflectivity moving from Barnsdall to Ramona (north of Tulsa)? What are you seeing in Base Velocity over the same area?
Question 6. What QLCS feature develops in Base Reflectivity extending from Tulsa northward to Ramona? What hazard do these usually produce?
Pause the animation and change your time to 1:24 AM (Edit à Date...). Zoom in to Tulsa.
Question 7. The buttons on either side of the play button let you step forward and backward 1 frame at a time. Using these buttons and watching Tulsa, step through from 1:10 AM to 1:24 AM. What do you think you are seeing in Base Velocity tracking from central to SE Tulsa? What other radar product might help to see this feature more clearly?
Change your time to 1:45 AM and step frame-by-frame from 1:28 AM to 1:45 AM. Watch Base Velocity data from Talala, OK down the QLCS line to Inola, OK (the radar is located in Inola).
Question 8. How many mesovortices do you observe in this 17-minute period? What features do you notice in Base Reflectivity at the location of the mesovortices?
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68 Part 3: October 21, 2017 (Southwest and Central Oklahoma)
Change your radar site to the Frederick, OK (KFDR) radar. Go to Edit à Date... (Short cut Shift D) and change the date to 10/21/2017 and the time to 7:00 PM. Make sure “BREF1” is in the left pane and “BVEL1” is in the right pane.
Question 9. Animate the radar data for 1-hour (6:01 PM to 7:00 PM) and watch the area of storms SW of OKC. What kind of storm (air mass, multicell, supercell) appears to be tracking from Medicine Park, OK to Apache, OK? Watch the storms SW of the Apache storm – what is happening to them by the end of the animation?
Change your radar site to the Oklahoma City, OK (KTLX) radar and your time to 8:00 PM (Edit à Date...) and animate for 1-hour (7:01 PM to 8:00 PM). Watch the storms SW of OKC.
Question 10. What subtle radar feature begins to show up ahead of the QLCS (near and NE of Rush Springs, OK) near the end of the animation?
Pause the animation and change your time to 9:05 PM (Edit à Date...). Step through one frame at a time (8:05 PM to 9:05 PM) and watch the storm that tracks over Norman, OK.
Question 11. It appears that there are two outflow boundaries that interact with the storm. At what time do you see the strongest rotation in Base Velocity? What do you notice about the outflow boundaries at that time?
Change your time to (Edit à Date...) 10:09 PM and animate for 1-hour (9:09 PM to 10:09 PM). Shift your attention to east of the OKC Metro area.
Question 12. What feature develops in Base Velocity and moves over Seminole, OK? What feature in Base Reflectivity appears in the same area?
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69 QLCS Lab: Debrief and Answers
March 28, 2017 Event
Southwest and Central Oklahoma
70 Question 1: What do we call the storm feature just west of the radar that sticks out? What hazard is usually associated with these?
Bow echo! These are associated with strong winds.
Question 2: What QLCS feature moves from Chillicothe, TX to Elmer, OK? What is happening in Base Velocity?
Bookend Vortex
Broad area of rotation
71 Question 3: At 9:03 PM what reflectivity feature do you see SW of El Reno? What causes it?
Caused by rear inflow jet
Rear inflow notch
Question 4: Looking at Base Velocity at 9:03 PM, what feature appears just to the NW of El Reno? What feature appears in Base Reflectivity there?
Inflow notch Mesovortex
72 March 28, 2017 Storm Reports
Mesonet Data
73 Mesonet Data
Mesonet Data
74 Mesonet Data
Mesonet Data
75 Mesonet Data
August 6, 2017 Event
Northeast Oklahoma
76 Question 5: What QLCS radar feature do you see in Base Reflectivity moving from Barnsdall to Ramona? What are you seeing in Base Velocity?
Bookend Vortex
Broad area of rotation
Question 6: What QLCS feature develops in Base Reflectivity extending from Tulsa northward to Ramona? What hazard do these usually produce?
Bow echo! These are associated with strong winds.
77 Question 7: What do you think you are seeing in Base Velocity tracking from central to SE Tulsa? What other radar product might help to see this?
Mesovortex
Other product you could view à Storm Relative Velocity
Question 8: How many mesovortices do you observe in this 17-minute period? What features do you notice in Base Reflectivity?
333 444 3 4 3
2 2 2 2 2 5 5
1 1 1 1 1 1
78 March 28, 2017 Storm Reports
Tornado Tracks – Tulsa/Broken Arrow
79 Tornado Tracks – Tulsa/Broken Arrow
Tornado Tracks – Oologah
80 Tornado Summary
• 4 tornadoes – EF-2 in Tulsa – EF-1 in Broken Arrow – EF-1 in Oologah – EF-1 in Chelsea
October 21, 2017 Event
Southwest and Central Oklahoma
81 Question 9: What kind of storm appears to be tracking from Medicine Park to Apache? What is happening to the storms SW of the Apache storm?
Supercell!
Storms merging
Question 10: What subtle radar feature begins to show up ahead of the QLCS (near and NE of Rush Springs) near the end of the animation?
Outflow boundary
82 Question 11: At what time do you see the strongest rotation in Base Velocity? What do you notice about the outflow boundaries at that time?
Appear to intersect and get pulled into the storm updraft here
Strongest rotation at 8:36 PM
Question 12: What feature develops in Base Velocity and moves over Seminole, OK? What feature appears in Base Reflectivity at the same time?
Inflow notch
Mesovortex
83 October 21, 2017 Storm Reports
Some Closing Thoughts • Supercell events get more of the attention… – but QLCS events affect much larger areas • Key QLCS radar features to watch include: – Bow echoes – Bookend vortices and mesovortices – Inflow notches on front and rear side – Outflow boundaries • QLCS mesovortices – Develop and dissipate rapidly – Do NOT always produce tornadoes – Can produce wind damage that is hard to discern between straight-line and tornadic – May produce tornadoes that are not tornado-warned or have incredibly short lead times
84 Causes of Missing Mesonet Data
Mesonet Maps Sometimes Have Missing Data
85 Missing Data in the Mesonet App
Why does this happen?
Let’s take a look at the different causes…
86 Cause #1: Communications Issues (Most Common)
• Mesonet relies on an assortment of communications including VHF radio, cellular, and the internet – Most Mesonet sites use VHF communications, repeaters, and internet bases at hardened facilities to transmit back to the National Weather Center – Some Mesonet sites use cellular communications • Common problems include… – Loss of internet at host facility – Weak radio signal – Maintenance at host facility, repeater, or station
Oklahoma Mesonet Communications Paths
87 Cause #2: Data Quality Issues • Mesonet data are quality assured – By computers: Automated quality assurance (QA) – By humans: Manual QA • Automated QA – Range Test: looks for observations outside a range of allowable values – Step Test: looks for values changing more than an allowable limit – Persistence Test: helps to check for a value that is “stuck” – Spatial Test: compares data to surrounding sites to detect significant errors – Like-Instrument Test: compares similar instruments
Cause #2: Data Quality Issues • Manual QA – Meteorologists manually review the data to check for issues that are more subtle and difficult to detect with automated QA • Flagging Data – Data that do not pass automated QA or manual QA are “flagged” as erroneous – Data deemed erroneous are retained at the Mesonet but not included in any maps or products we produce – Data quality is frequently re-assessed. On rare occasions, some quality assurance flags may change after data are re- analyzed
88 Example of Manual QA
Manual QA “flagged out” wind data here due to icing issues
Example of Manual QA
89 Cause #3: Technician Visits
• Routine Passes (Spring, Summer, and Fall) – Each site is visited multiple times a year to test sensors & equipment, rotate sensors as needed, maintain vegetation, and address any issues – During the visit, site data are not available
Bird’s Eye View of Mesonet Vegetation Maintenance
90 Cause #4: Weather-related Damage
• Weather hazards pose a risk to Mesonet sites – Lightning – Flooding – Hail – Wildfires – Tornadoes
Cause #5: Critter-related Issues (oftentimes caught in QA procedures)
91 Cause #5: Critter-related Issues
Cause #5: Critter-related Issues
92 A Few Final Considerations
• So much data to collect… – We collect more than 3 million measurements per day – Lots of opportunities for data to not make it to a map • Virtually all Oklahoma Mesonet data are collected – 99.98% collection rate – Data we miss is due primarily to lightning, scheduled maintenance (replacing battery, datalogger, etc.), or sudden battery failure – Data not on the map due to communications issues are collected later and become part of the archive
Causes of Missing Mesonet Data Summary
• Causes of missing Oklahoma Mesonet data include… – Communications issues – Data quality issues – Technician visits – Weather-related damage – Critter-related issues • Just because data are not on a map does not mean the data do not exist – Flagged data are not shown – Some data are received late due to communications issues – The Oklahoma Mesonet collects 99.98% of all observations
93 GOES-16 Band Reference Guide [email protected]
ABI Band #1 ABI Band #2
0.47 microns 0.64 microns
Visible (“Blue Band”) Visible (“Red Band”)
Primary Uses: Primary Uses:
Monitoring aerosols (smoke, haze, dust) Daytime monitoring of clouds (0.5-km spatial res- olution) Air quality monitoring through measurements of aerosol optical depth Volcanic ash monitoring
ABI Band #3 ABI Band #4
0.86 microns 1.37 microns
Near–IR (“Veggie Near-IR (“Cirrus Band”) Band”) Primary Uses: Primary Uses:
High contrast between water and land Thin cirrus detection during the day as the lower Assess land characteristics including flooding troposphere is not routinely sensed impacts, burn scars, and hail swath damage Volcanic ash monitoring
ABI Band #5 ABI Band #6
1.6 microns 2.24 microns
Near–IR (“Snow/Ice Near-IR (“Cloud Par- Band”) ticle Size Band”) Primary Uses: Primary Uses:
Daytime snow, ice, and cloud discrimination Cloud particle size, snow, and cloud phase (Snow/Ice dark compared to liquid water clouds) Hot spot detection at emission temperatures of Input to “Snow/Ice vs. Cloud” RGB greater than 600K
ABI Band #7 ABI Band #8
3.9 microns 6.2 microns
IR (“Shortwave IR (“Upper- Window Band”) Troposphere WV Contains daytime solar reflectance component In a standard US atmosphere the weighting function peaks around 340 mb. **NOTE: The sensed radiation is Primary Uses: from a layer, not just the peak pressure level which Low stratus and fog (especially when differenced itself varies from the standard value with the 11.2-micron IR channel taking advantage Primary Uses: of emissivity differences) Upper-level feature detection (jet stream, waves, Fire/hot spot detection and volcanic ash etc.) 94 ABI Band #9 ABI Band #10
6.9 microns 7.3 microns
IR (“Mid-Level Tropo- IR (“Low-Level Trop- sphere WV Band”) osphere WV Band”) In a standard US atmosphere the weighting function In a standard US atmosphere the weighting function peaks around 440 mb. **NOTE: The sensed radiation is peaks around 615 mb. **NOTE: The sensed radiation is from a layer, not just the peak pressure level which from a layer, not just the peak pressure level which it- itself varies from the standard value self varies from the standard value Primary Uses: Mid-level feature detection Primary Uses: Low-level feature detection (EML, fronts)
ABI Band #11 ABI Band #12
8.4 microns 9.6 microns
IR (“Cloud-Top Phase IR (“Ozone Band”) Band”) Primary Uses: Primary Uses: Dynamics near the tropopause including strato- Cloud-top phase and type products derived when spheric intrusions (high ozone) associated with combined with the 11.2- and 12.3- micron channels cyclogenesis. PV anomaly applications Volcanic ash (S02 detection) and dust Input to Airmass RGB
ABI Band #13 ABI Band #14
10.3 microns 11.2 microns
IR (“Clean IR IR (“IR Longwave Longwave Band”) Band”) Less sensitive to atmospheric moisture than the oth- The traditional IR window
er IR channels. As a result brightness temperatures Differenced with the 3.9 micron near IR channel for are usually warmer than traditional IR as less radia- low stratus and fog detection tion is absorbed by water vapor and re-emitted at higher altitudes
ABI Band #15 ABI Band #16
12.3 microns 13.3 microns
IR (“Dirty IR IR (“C02 Longwave Longwave Band”) IR Band”) Greater sensitivity to moisture compared to the 10.3- Primary Uses: and 11.2-micron channels. As a result, brightness Mean tropospheric air temperature estimation temperatures will be cooler Input to RGBs to highlight high, cold, and likely Contributes to total PWAT and low-level moisture icy clouds information
Useful Links:
Individual ABI Band Guides: http://www.goes-r.gov/education/ABI-bands-quick-info.html
ABI Weighting Function Page: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/wf/ABI/ 95
RadarFirst Cheat Sheet For Version 1.7, January 2017 (Note: RadarFirst 1.7 is Windows Only) Using the Map • To move the map: o [Mouse] Left mouse click, hold, and drag o [Touch screen] Finger touch and drag across the screen • To zoom the map in: o [Mouse] Double left mouse click OR mouse scroll wheel o [Touch screen] Finger pinch apart • To zoom the map out: o [Mouse] Double right mouse click OR mouse scroll wheel o [Touch screen] Finger pinch together • To animate the map: o Click the play button in the black bar at the bottom (default: 1-hour animation). For 2- or 3-hour animations click “2” or “3” at the bottom right (animation start/stop short cut: space bar) • To view data in one or two panes: o Go to View à One Pane or View à Two Panes (short cut: Shift 1 or Shift 2) • To view more than one radar site: o Open the RadarFirst software additional times and view different radars on each
Changing Radar Sites/Products • To change a radar site: click the radar name (e.g. KTLX – Oklahoma City) in the black bar that appears near the top. Click any 3 letter radar identifier to change radars. Drag the map to see and select additional radars. • To change a radar product: click the radar product name (e.g., “BREF1”) in the black bar near the top and then click any radar product to change to it. For products with multiple tilts (e.g., BREF1, 2, 3, 4) only click the number.
Changing Options • To change RadarFirst options: go to Edit à Options… (short cut: Shift O) • Options include showing/hiding different map elements (e.g., cities, storm tracks, lightning, etc.), setting up audible alerts for counties of your choosing, proxy server settings, and graphics settings
Changing the Date • To change the time/date: go to Edit à Date… (short cut: Shift D) • Note: radar is only available for a limited set of events. Changing the time/date and seeing nothing means we do not have radar data archived for that particular event.
Short Cuts • A total of 11 “hot key” short cuts are available in the software, including: 1. Animation start/stop: Space bar 7. City names shown/hidden: Shift C 2. Date: Shift D 8. Storm warnings shown/hidden: Shift W 3. Options: Shift O 9. Storm tracks shown/hidden: Shift T 4. One pane mode: Shift 1 10. Spotter locations shown/hidden: Shift P 5. Two pane mode: Shift 2 11. Lightning shown/hidden: Shift L 6. Snapshot: Shift S (saves images to “Pictures” folder)
Hidden Features • To return to Oklahoma in the radar product selector window: right mouse click within the window • To change color scale on BREF, BVEL, or SRVEL products: right mouse click while mouse cursor is over the color bar at the bottom. Additional right clicks will return to the original color scale. 96
Radar Pro Tips 97 adar data. data. adar $ ! $ ! !$! "! 2. Every Pixel Matters colors brightest the to drawn naturally are eyes Our be can pixels obvious sometimes in less but radar, the most important. In particular,be onthe lookout for subtle finefeatures like lines, which are wind (and temperature) shifts associated with storms or radar on visible always not are lines Fine fronts. duethe to radar beam overshooting them at farther Although radar data are great for providing weather weather providing for great are data radar Although situational awareness, using radar data in isolation can cause you to misunderstand or completely data Viewing radar risk. greatest the miss alongside or combined with other datasets (lightning, Mesonet, satellite,a etc.) provides for For hazards. of assessment complete more the to area the left, the to example the in instance, lightning significant a has storm the of southeast the from miles 8 as many as locations some (in risk precipitation core). Not viewing lightningdata with radardata would yield a different hazard storm. this of southeast those for assessment
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1. Use Radar Data In Concert With Other Datasets Radar Pro Tips Pro Radar precipitation of evolution and intensity, location, the into insight provides that tool a wonderful is Radar during weather events. Asa as great tool it is, its utility in rests the knowledge and those of experience using it. following The radar 6 proa tips will help better be of r you user distances, but whenvisible these features monitored. lines Fine should closely very be in shifts deadly with associated been have wildfires as as well tragic outcomes during storm events (e.g., Indiana State Fair stage incident boat duck Branson 2011, in collapse in 2018, etc.) due to the strong winds not those For with associated them. commonly hazardous radar, on lines fine monitoring than earlier arrive to seem can weather expected. for out watch to features radar subtle Other include smokeplumes, hail spikes, inflow These notches. rear-inflow and notches, the with associated commonly not are features can but reflectivity radar in colors brightest hazards. different signal
Radar Pro Tips
beam. radar the at identified was rotation where from location a in different atornado producing supercell tilted a shows right the to example The surface. the at occurring are they where from horizontally displaced on radar results inbeing their features which addition, many severe storms are tilted vertically, In 5100ft”). “Ht: (e.g., software OK-First in check analyzing features on radar – this is a value you can mindful of the height of your radar beam when beam height and NOT atthe ground. Always be by the radar are locatedradar, items atthe observed the from away height with increasing beam the to Due 5. Radar Echoes Are At Are 5. Echoes Height Beam Radar occurring. get amore complete picture of what is multi-panel configurations so you can advantage of the available information in take so 2013) 31, May from right the to example (see first tilts higher on develop vertically and tend to show up use them! Storms productsmany – for of data 4 to tilts access you have that developments and features. Remember important miss to you cause so will as doing BREF1) oneonly (e.g., yourself to never viewing limit event, practical to view every product during an dual-pol radar products. While it is not traditional (e.g., BREF, BVEL, etc.) and OK-First provides a sizable collection of Use Them! &Tilts– Products Many 4. You Have watching data throughout an event to see how things change. hazards, and/or expand or contract in coverage, so it is critical to remain vigilant and keep change paths (some take a “right turn”), undergo new development that shifts the location of sense that whatfalse you are seeing without willcontinue now change. commonly Storms lifecycle. When watching radar trends, do not intobe “misconception lulled by advection” or– a Storms do not maintain the same intensity, shape, size, speed, and direction throughout their 3.Advection Misconception By area and the information they provide on the location of hazards at the ground. your on in so heavily spotters Lean they before to tend arrive will. think you they radar from the ground (wind shifts, tornadoes, etc.) are overshot by the radar beam at increasing distances you are seeing is already 5-10 minutes behind. Also keep in mind that hazards close to the radar Using islikedata watching live TV on a several Always delay. minute assume that what Behind AStep Always Is Radar 6.
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