Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, FY2016

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, FY2016 The Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Fiscal Year 2016 OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH OFCMA Half-Century of Multi-Agency Collaboration FCM-P1-2015 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (FCMSSR) DR. KATHRYN SULLIVAN MR. BENJAMIN PAGE (Observer) Chair, Department of Commerce Office of Management and Budget DR. TAMARA DICKINSON MR. EDWARD L. BOLTON, JR. Office of Science and Technology Policy Department of Transportation DR. SETH MEYER MR. DAVID L. MILLER Department of Agriculture Federal Emergency Management Agency Department of Homeland Security MR. MANSON K. BROWN Department of Commerce MR. JOHN GRUNSFELD National Aeronautics and Space Administration MR. EARL WYATT Department of Defense DR. ROGER WAKIMOTO National Science Foundation DR. GERALD GEERNAERT Department of Energy MR. PAUL MISENCIK National Transportation Safety Board DR. REGINALD BROTHERS Science and Technology Directorate MR. GLENN TRACY Department of Homeland Security U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission DR. JERAD BALES DR. JENNIFER ORME-ZAVALETA Department of the Interior Environmental Protection Agency MR. KENNETH HODGKINS COL PAUL ROELLE (Acting) Department of State Federal Coordinator for Meteorology MR. MICHAEL BONADONNA, Secretariat Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (ICMSSR) COL PAUL ROELLE, Chair (Acting) MR. RICKEY PETTY DR. DAVID R. REIDMILLER Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Department of Energy Department of State MR. MARK BRUSBERG DR. VAUGHN STANDLEY DR. ROHIT MATHUR Department of Agriculture Department of Energy Environmental Protection Agency DR. LOUIS UCCELLINI MR. JOEL WALL MR. ROY WRIGHT National Weather Service Science and Technology Directorate Federal Emergency Management Agency Department of Commerce Department of Homeland Security Department of Homeland Security DR. STEPHEN VOLZ DR. WILLIAM LEITH DR. JACK KAYE NOAA Satellite and Information Service Department of the Interior National Aeronautics and Space Administration Department of Commerce MR. STEVEN CLARKE DR. RAYMOND SAUVAJOT CRAIG MCLEAN National Aeronautics and Space Administration Department of the Interior Oceanic and Atmospheric Research DR. PAUL B. SHEPSON Department of Commerce MR. JOHN VIMONT National Science Foundation Department of the Interior RADM TIMOTHY C. GALLAUDET MR. DONALD E. EICK United States Navy MR. PAUL FONTAINE National Transportation Safety Board Department of Defense Federal Aviation Administration Department of Transportation MR. SCOTT FLANDERS MR. SCOTT LIVEZEY U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission United States Navy MR. MARK KEHRLI Department of Defense Federal Highway Administration MR. MICHAEL CLARK Department of Transportation Office of Management and Budget MR. RALPH STOFFLER United States Air Force DR. JONATHAN M. BERKSON Department of Defense United States Coast Guard Department of Homeland Security MR. MICHAEL BONADONNA, Secretariat Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research The Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research FISCAL YEAR 2016 FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH Silver Spring Metro Center, Building 2 (SSMC 2) 1325 East West Highway, Suite 7130 Silver Spring, MD 20910 301.628.0112 FCM-P1-2015 Editor: Mr. Anthony Ramirez September 2015 Assistant: Ms. Erin McNamara WASHINGTON, D.C. Assistant: Mr. Kenneth Barnett PREFACE This edition of the Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research marks the beginning of a new era in Federal meteorological coordination and the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology (OFCM). As stated by Mr. Samuel P. Williamson in the preface to the document The Federal Role in Meteorological Services and Supporting Research – A Half Century of Multi-Agency Collaboration: “…the federal meteorological enterprise is poised to continue delivering ever greater value in meeting the Nation’s changing needs for meteorological and climatological services and products.” “…I look forward to the next half-century of challenges for OFCM. With the nation’s continued support, we will strive to surpass the remarkable record set during our first half-century.” 2015 has been a year of great change for many of the partners of the federal meteorological enterprise. Several organizations, including the OFCM, are undergoing substantial reorganization. As part of this transition, Mr. David McCarren accepted a temporary appointment from the CNMOC to serve as Acting Federal Coordinator for over eight months. During that time, we conducted a broad survey of the organizations participating in the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure to gather input to inform decisions regarding the future direction of OFCM. With strong leadership and support from the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (FMCSSR) met for the first time in over ten years. Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (IMCSSR) later met to approve substantial changes to the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure. As a result, the ICMSSR deactivated all four Program Councils and assumed responsibility for all executive-level coordination within the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure. This action also reduced the number of subordinate Committees, Working Groups, and Joint Action Groups by 35%. Amid all this change, the 15 agencies of the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure continue to work together toward common goals in a number of important areas. The Committee for Operational Environmental Satellites is working to improve interagency communication and coordination of matters regarding the use of environmental satellites. In 2015 they documented broad Federal agency support and needs for international cooperation to cover environmental satellite data coverage of the Indian Ocean and continued night visible imagery from the NOAA polar orbiting satellites. In data-related work, the Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working Group (STIWG) has been reintegrated in the federal Coordinating infrastructure to heighten agency awareness of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Data Collection System (DCS) and opportunities for data sharing and collaboration. iv OFCM continues to play a critical role in supporting cooperation through the Committee for Operational Processing Centers and its subordinate working groups. Establishment of a new information security-compliant communications infrastructure has been a top priority. We will continue to plan, organize, and host the Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference to share information and prepare for next year’s hurricane season, including publishing the 2016 National Hurricane Operations Plan. The Working Group for Tropical Cyclone Research is working to complete a mid-course assessment of progress in achieving our strategic research plan for tropical cyclones. We are also eager to see the proof of concept system under development for dual-polarization phased array radar and the possibility to move forward with a full-scale Advanced Technology Demonstrator for Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR). MPAR represents a potential breakthrough in economy across a number of radar applications. Remarkable change and progress has been made in the area of Space Weather planning and interagency coordination. The National Space Weather Program continues to support the annual Space Weather Enterprise Forum in Washington DC and the new National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plans to be published in fiscal year (FY) 2016. This is also an exciting time for discovering, acquiring, and employing new data streams from satellites, unmanned aircraft systems, and networks of observing networks across the country— all of which will be addressed through our interagency coordinating groups in the coming year. This edition of the Federal Plan provides additional information on these topics as well as much more information about activities across the agencies. It provides Congress and the Executive Branch with a review of agency programs and activities in FY 2015, a comprehensive account of proposed programs for FY 2016, and an outlook for future investment. The Federal Plan's narratives, timelines, and schedules are current as of September 2015. I extend my thanks to our agency partners and their staffs for their dedicated efforts to contribute to this important document. Paul A. Roelle, Colonel, PhD, USAF Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (Acting) v Table of Contents PREFACE………………………………………………………………………………………………..iv SECTION 1 AGENCY FUNDING FOR METEOROLOGICAL OPERATIONS AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH .................................................................................................................. 1-1 AGENCY BUDGET SUMMARIES…………………………………………………………...………1-1 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE………………………………………………………...……1-1 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION .......................................................................................................................... 1-2 National Weather Service ............................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • GAO-16-252R, Defense Weather Satellites
    441 G St. N.W. Washington, DC 20548 March 10, 2016 Congressional Committees Defense Weather Satellites: Analysis of Alternatives Is Useful for Certain Capabilities, but Ineffective Coordination Limited Assessment of Two Critical Capabilities The Department of Defense (DOD) uses data from military, U.S. civil government, and international partner satellite sensors to provide critical weather information and forecasts for military operations. As DOD’s primary existing weather satellite system—the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)—ages and other satellites near their estimated end of life, DOD faces potential gaps in its space-based environmental monitoring (SBEM) capabilities which may affect stakeholders that use SBEM data, including the military services, the intelligence community, and U.S. civil agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). After two unsuccessful attempts to develop follow-on programs from 1997 through fiscal year 2012, including the National Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System (NPOESS), a tri-agency program between DOD, NOAA, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that was canceled in 2010 because of extensive cost overruns and schedule delays, DOD and other stakeholders who rely on SBEM data are now in a precarious position in which key capabilities require immediate and near-term solutions.1 With potential capability gaps starting as early as this year, it is important for DOD to make decisions in a timely manner, but based on informed analysis that
    [Show full text]
  • Operating Instructions Present Weather Sensor Parsivel
    Operating instructions Present Weather Sensor Parsivel English We reserve the right to make technical changes! Table of contents 1 Scope of delivery 5 2 Part numbers 5 3 Parsivel Factory Settings 6 4 Safety instructions 7 5 Introduction 8 5.1 Functional principle 8 5.2 Connection Options for the Parsivel 9 6 Installing the Parsivel 10 6.1 Cable Selection 10 6.2 Wiring the Parsivel 11 6.3 Grounding the Parsivel 13 6.4 Installing the Parsivel 14 7 Connecting the Parsivel to a data logger 15 7.1 Connecting the Parsivel to the LogoSens Station Manager via RS-485 interface 15 7.2 Connecting the Parsivel to a Data logger via the SDI-12 Interface 17 7.3 Connecting the Parsivel to a Data Logger with Impulse/Status Input 21 8 Connecting the Parsivel to a PC 23 8.1 Connecting the Parsivel to Interface Converter RS-485/RS-232 (Accessories) 23 8.2 Connecting the Parsivel to the ADAM-4520 Converter RS-485/RS-232 (Accessories) 25 8.3 Connecting the Parsivel to Interface Converter RS-485/USB (Accessories) 26 8.4 Connecting the Parsivel to any RS-485 Interface Converter 27 8.5 Connecting the Parsivel for configuration via the Service-Tool to a PC 27 9 Connecting the Parsivel to a Power Supply (Accessory) 29 10 Heating the Parsivel sensor heads 30 11 Operating Parsivel with a Terminal software 31 11.1 Set up communications between the Parsivel and the terminal program 31 11.2 Measured value numbers 32 11.3 Defining the formatting string 33 11.4 OTT telegram 33 11.5 Updating Parsivel Firmware 34 12 Maintenance 36 12.1 Cleaning the laser’s protective glass
    [Show full text]
  • United States Air Force and Its Antecedents Published and Printed Unit Histories
    UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AND ITS ANTECEDENTS PUBLISHED AND PRINTED UNIT HISTORIES A BIBLIOGRAPHY EXPANDED & REVISED EDITION compiled by James T. Controvich January 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTERS User's Guide................................................................................................................................1 I. Named Commands .......................................................................................................................4 II. Numbered Air Forces ................................................................................................................ 20 III. Numbered Commands .............................................................................................................. 41 IV. Air Divisions ............................................................................................................................. 45 V. Wings ........................................................................................................................................ 49 VI. Groups ..................................................................................................................................... 69 VII. Squadrons..............................................................................................................................122 VIII. Aviation Engineers................................................................................................................ 179 IX. Womens Army Corps............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Major Commands and Air National Guard
    2019 USAF ALMANAC MAJOR COMMANDS AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD Pilots from the 388th Fighter Wing’s, 4th Fighter Squadron prepare to lead Red Flag 19-1, the Air Force’s premier combat exercise, at Nellis AFB, Nev. Photo: R. Nial Bradshaw/USAF R.Photo: Nial The Air Force has 10 major commands and two Air Reserve Components. (Air Force Reserve Command is both a majcom and an ARC.) ACRONYMS AA active associate: CFACC combined force air evasion, resistance, and NOSS network operations security ANG/AFRC owned aircraft component commander escape specialists) squadron AATTC Advanced Airlift Tactics CRF centralized repair facility GEODSS Ground-based Electro- PARCS Perimeter Acquisition Training Center CRG contingency response group Optical Deep Space Radar Attack AEHF Advanced Extremely High CRTC Combat Readiness Training Surveillance system Characterization System Frequency Center GPS Global Positioning System RAOC regional Air Operations Center AFS Air Force Station CSO combat systems officer GSSAP Geosynchronous Space ROTC Reserve Officer Training Corps ALCF airlift control flight CW combat weather Situational Awareness SBIRS Space Based Infrared System AOC/G/S air and space operations DCGS Distributed Common Program SCMS supply chain management center/group/squadron Ground Station ISR intelligence, surveillance, squadron ARB Air Reserve Base DMSP Defense Meteorological and reconnaissance SBSS Space Based Surveillance ATCS air traffic control squadron Satellite Program JB Joint Base System BM battle management DSCS Defense Satellite JBSA Joint Base
    [Show full text]
  • How to Get Weather and Pest Data?
    How to get weather and pest data? François Brun (ACTA) with contributions of the other lecturers IPM CC, October 2016 Which data ? • Weather and Climate – Weather : conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time – climate : atmosphere behavior over relatively long periods of time. • Pest and Disease data – Effects of conditions : experiments – Epidemiology : observation / monitoring networks Weather and Climate data Past Weather Historical Climate Data – Ground weather station – Average and variability – Satellite,… – Real long time series – Reconstituted long series – Simulated long series (1961- 1990 : reference) Forecast Weather Climate projections – Prediction with model – Prediction with model – Short term : 1h, 3h, 12h, 24, – IPCC report 3 day, 15 day. – 2021-2050 : middle of – Seasonal prediction : 1 to 6 century period months (~ el nino ) – 2071-2100 : end of century period Past Weather data Standard weather station Standard : at 2 m height • Frequent Useful for us – Thermometer : temperature – Anemometer : wind speed – Wind vane : wind direction – Hygrometer : humidity – Barometer : atmospheric pressure • Less frequent – Ceilometer : cloud height – Present weather sensor – Visibility sensor – Rain gauge : liquid-equivalent precipitation – Ultrasonic snow depth sensor for measuring depth of snow © Choi – Pyranometer : solar radiation Past Weather data In field / micro weather observations Wetness duration Temperature and humidity in canopy Water in soil © Choi Past Weather data Where to retrieve them ? • Your own weather
    [Show full text]
  • ICICLE Program Updates (Stephanie Divito, FAA)
    In-Cloud ICing and Large-drop Experiment Stephanie DiVito, FAA October 13, 2020 New FAA Flight program: ICICLE In-Cloud ICing and Large-drop Experiment Other Participants: Desert Research Institute (DRI), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center, Meteo-France, UK Met Office, Deutscher Wetterdienst (German Meteorological Office), Northern Illinois University, Iowa State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Valparaiso University 10/13/2020 FPAW: ICICLE 2 Flight Program Overview • January 27 – March 8, 2019 • Operations Base: Rockford, Illinois – Domain: 200 nmi radius • NRC Convair-580 aircraft – Owned and operated by NRC Flight Research Laboratory – Jointly instrumented by NRC and ECCC – Extensively used in icing research for over 25 years • 120 flight hours (110 for research) • 26 research flights (30 total) 10/13/2020 FPAW: ICICLE 3 Scientific & Technical Objectives • Observe, document, and further characterize a variety of in-flight and surface-level icing conditions – Environmental parameters and particle size distribution for: . Small-drop icing, FZDZ and FZRA – Transitions between those environments & non-icing environments – Synoptic, mesoscale & local effects • Assess ability of operational data, icing tools and products to diagnose and forecast those features – Satellite – GOES-16 – Radar – Individual NEXRADs, MRMS – Surface based – ASOS, AWOS, etc. – Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models – Microphysical parameterizations, TLE, etc. – Icing Products - CIP, FIP, other icing tools 10/13/2020 FPAW: ICICLE 4 Sampling Objectives (1/2) • Collect data in a wide variety of icing and non-icing conditions – Small-drop and large-drop . Including those with (& without) FZDZ and FZRA – Null icing environments .
    [Show full text]
  • Ott Parsivel - Enhanced Precipitation Identifier for Present Weather, Drop Size Distribution and Radar Reflectivity - Ott Messtechnik, Germany
    ® OTT PARSIVEL - ENHANCED PRECIPITATION IDENTIFIER FOR PRESENT WEATHER, DROP SIZE DISTRIBUTION AND RADAR REFLECTIVITY - OTT MESSTECHNIK, GERMANY Kurt Nemeth1, Martin Löffler-Mang2 1 OTT Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Kempten (Germany) 2 HTW, Saarbrücken (Germany) as a laser-optic enhanced precipitation identifier and present weather sensor. The patented extinction method for simultaneous measurements of particle size and velocity of all liquid and solid precipitation employs a direct physical measurement principle and classification of hydrometeors. The instrument provides a full picture of precipitation events during any kind of weather phenomenon and provides accurate reporting of precipitation types, accumulation and intensities without degradation of per- formance in severe outdoor environments. Parsivel® operates in any climate regime and the built-in heating device minimizes the negative effect of freezing and frozen precipitation accreting critical surfaces on the instrument. Parsivel® can be integrated into an Automated Surface/ Weather Observing System (ASOS/AWOS) as part of the sensor suite. The derived data can be processed and 1. Introduction included into transmitted weather observation reports and messages (WMO, SYNOP, METAR and NWS codes). ® OTT Parsivel : Laser based optical Disdrometer for 1.2. Performance, accuracy and calibration procedure simultaneous measurement of PARticle SIze and VELocity of all liquid and solid precipitation. This state The new generation of Parsivel® disdrometer provides of the art instrument, designed to operate under all the latest state of the art optical laser technology. Each weather conditions, is capable of fulfilling multiple hydrometeor, which falls through the measuring area is meteorological applications: present weather sensing, measured simultaneously for size and velocity with an optical precipitation gauging, enhanced precipitation acquisition cycle of 50 kHz.
    [Show full text]
  • Thor's Legions American Meteorological Society Historical Monograph Series the History of Meteorology: to 1800, by H
    Thor's Legions American Meteorological Society Historical Monograph Series The History of Meteorology: to 1800, by H. Howard Frisinger (1977/1983) The Thermal Theory of Cyclones: A History of Meteorological Thought in the Nineteenth Century, by Gisela Kutzbach (1979) The History of American Weather (four volumes), by David M. Ludlum Early American Hurricanes - 1492-1870 (1963) Early American Tornadoes - 1586-1870 (1970) Early American Winters I - 1604-1820 (1966) Early American Winters II - 1821-1870 (1967) The Atmosphere - A Challenge: The Science of Jule Gregory Charney, edited by Richard S. Lindzen, Edward N. Lorenz, and George W Platzman (1990) Thor's Legions: Weather Support to the u.s. Air Force and Army - 1937-1987, by John F. Fuller (1990) Thor's Legions Weather Support to the U.S. Air Force and Army 1937-1987 John F. Fuller American Meteorological Society 45 Beacon Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108-3693 The views expressed in this book are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the United States Government. © Copyright 1990 by the American Meteorological Society. Permission to use figures, tables, and briefexcerpts from this monograph in scientific and educational works is hereby granted provided the source is acknowledged. All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, elec­ tronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permis­ sion ofthe publisher. ISBN 978-0-933876-88-0 ISBN 978-1-935704-14-0 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-935704-14-0 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1990 Library of Congress catalog card number 90-81187 Published by the American Meteorological Society, 45 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108-3693 Richard E.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr. Louis Uccellini Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and Director of the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S
    Dr. Louis Uccellini Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and Director of the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce Testimony to the Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology United States House of Representatives Field Hearing: Weathering the Storm: Improving Hurricane Resiliency through Research July 22, 2019 Good morning Chairwoman Fletcher, Ranking Member Marshall, and Members of the Subcommittee. I am Dr. Louis Uccellini, Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS). Within the NWS, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) issues the official forecast for all Atlantic and eastern Pacific tropical cyclones (hurricanes, tropical storms and tropical depressions) and their precursors. It is my honor to testify before you today on the state of the United States hurricane forecasting capability; our efforts to improve our understanding and prediction of hurricane impacts from storm surge, heavy precipitation, and high winds; and what hurricane research focus areas are needed to improve prediction. I come before you today to report that hurricane forecasting accuracy has improved tremendously over the past two decades. The NHC track (storm location) forecast errors have decreased every decade since forecast accuracy records were established in the 1960’s, and NHC has set new records almost every year. For perspective, the average two-day Atlantic forecast location error was reduced from around 300 miles (approximately 260 nautical miles (n mi), see Fig. 1) in the 1960s to near 85 miles in the 2010s. The five-day forecast for storm location is now better than the day-and-a-half forecast was in the 1970s.
    [Show full text]
  • January 2016 Newsletter and in Your Unit/Squadron Association Newsletters As Applicable)
    AIR WEATHER ASSOCIATION **Serving the Present – Remembering the Past – Air Force Weather** NEWSLETTER Volume 23 January 2016 Air Force Weather Reorganized AWA REUNION 2016 To help celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Air Force Plan now to join many other AWA members, their Weather (AFW) in 2012, AWA members along with spouses and guests for the next biennial Air Weather many active duty AFW personnel joined together to Association reunion, Wednesday 27 April to Sunday publish an update of the historical report presented at 1 May 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. The reunion hotel the 50th Anniversary in 1987 (Air Weather Service: Our will be the Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk Heritage 1937-1987). George Coleman took the initiative at 105 South St. Mary’s Street, San Antonio, TX 78205. to lead in updating the history and published a final Please reserve hotel rooms by April 6, 2016 to draft of Air Force Weather: Our Heritage 1937-2012 for obtain the AWA Reunion discount daily rate of $115 + presentation at the 75th Anniversary Celebration in tax (currently 16.75%) for single/double; $125 + tax for Omaha. He continued to update the history as triple; or $135 + tax for quad accommodations. The information was received from members and other discounted room rates will be available 3 days before readers and published a revision distributed at the AWA and after the reunion period. 2014 reunion in Charleston SC. That 2nd Edition dated Make room reservations by phone at Drury Plaza 1 March 2014 is available to all on the AWA website at Hotel reservations 1-800-325-0720.
    [Show full text]
  • ABSTRACT FARRINGTON, NATHANAEL CHRISTIAN. Numerical Weather Prediction of Stratus: Sensitivity to Aerosol Aware Microphysics. (
    ABSTRACT FARRINGTON, NATHANAEL CHRISTIAN. Numerical Weather Prediction of Stratus: Sensitivity to Aerosol Aware Microphysics. (Under the direction of Dr. Gary Lackmann.) Operational numerical weather prediction microphysics schemes commonly hold cloud droplet number concentration fixed domain-wide to increase computational efficiency. However, observations indicate wide variability of this quantity. Particularly, cloud condensation nucleus concentration has been observed to influence cloud droplet size, leading to changes in cloud radiative and microphysical properties. These changes have been shown to alter cloud depth, lifetime, and other characteristics of importance to operational forecasters. The advent of the Weather Research and Forecasting model version 3.6 includes the Thompson and Eidhammer radiation-coupled microphysics option which is double- moment for cloud water, accounts for some aerosol influences, and is designed for operational efficiency. Tests conducted here show that the new scheme successfully varies aerosol and cloud droplet number concentration temporally and spatially, while significantly altering the radiative properties and coverage of inland coastal stratus in the Pacific Northwest. However, tests also show that several other factors exercise greater sway over stratus coverage and lifetime relative to CCN concentration. © Copyright 2015 Nathanael C. Farrington All Rights Reserved Numerical Weather Prediction of Stratus: Sensitivity to Aerosol Aware Microphysics. by Nathanael C. Farrington A thesis submitted
    [Show full text]
  • Lightning and the Space Program
    National Aeronautics and Space Administration facts Lightning and the Space NASA Program Lightning protection systems weather radar, are the primary Air Force thunderstorm surveil- lance tools for evaluating weather conditions that lead to the ennedy Space Center operates extensive lightning protec- issuance and termination of lightning warnings. Ktion and detection systems in order to keep its employees, The Launch Pad Lightning Warning System comprises 31 the 184-foot-high space shuttle, the launch pads, payloads and electric field mills uniformly distributed throughout Kennedy processing facilities from harm. The protection systems and the and Cape Canaveral. They serve as an early warning system detection systems incorporate equipment and personnel both for electrical charges building aloft or approaching as part of a at Kennedy and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), storm system. These instruments are ground-level electric field located southeast of Kennedy. strength monitors. Information from this warning system gives forecasters information on trends in electric field potential Predicting lightning before it reaches and the locations of highly charged clouds capable of support- Kennedy Space Center ing natural or triggered lightning. The data are valuable in Air Force 45th Weather Squadron – The first line of detecting early storm electrification and the threat of triggered defense for lightning safety is accurately predicting when and lightning for launch vehicles. where thunderstorms will occur. The Air Force 45th Weather The Lightning Detection and Ranging system, developed Squadron provides all weather support for Kennedy/CCAFS by Kennedy, detects and locates lightning in three dimensions operations, except space shuttle landings, which are supported using a “time of arrival” computation on signals received at by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration seven antennas.
    [Show full text]