CIMMS 2009 Annual Report
Executive Summary Listing of Activities during FY2009
Basic Convective and Mesoscale Research
The primary goals of this original CIMMS thematic area are to understand cloud and mesoscale
dynamics, microphysics and the precipitation process and their relationships to large and small
scale forcing, and to develop procedures for assimilation of meteorological data into simulation
and prediction models of these processes. The work done here represents a fundamental
building block for eventual applied techniques.
During the past year, research was conducted on:
• VORTEX2: A field experiment to study tornadoes from all angles
• Cloud microphysics and quantitative precipitation measurement using polarimetric radar
• Retrieval of drop size distribution parameters from polarimetric radar measurements
• Investigation of kinematic, microphysical and electrical signatures in convective storms
• Estimation of radial and vertical wind velocities in vortices from an analytical tangential
model
• Doppler radar data quality control, analyses, and assimilation
• Synoptic-scale influences on outbreaks of severe convection
• Parameterization of drop size distributions in drizzling stratiform clouds
• Mesoscale dynamics and mesoscale applications of Information Theory
• Adaptive high-order methods for nonhydrostatic numerical weather prediction
Forecast Improvements
The primary goal of this original thematic area is to accelerate the transfer of research knowledge
and skills between the academic and NOAA operational mesoscale meteorological communities
to both improve the design and utilization of mesoscale weather observing systems and improve
mesoscale weather prediction and warning.
During the past year, research was conducted on:
• Dual-polarimetric WSR-88D development
• Hazardous Weather Testbed Experimental Warning Program
• Assimilation of radar observations in storm-scale NWP models
• Development of a WRF mesoscale ensemble data assimilation system for severe
weather applications
• WRF model sensitivities to microphysical and planetary boundary layer parameterizations
• Optimizing probabilistic guidance from small, high-resolution ensembles
• Probabilistic forecasts for severe thunderstorms based on identification of extreme
phenomena in convection-allowing model output
• Verification of European Severe Thunderstorm Forecast Experiment (ESTOFEX)
products
• Communicating weather information to emergency managers
• Science and technology infusion in NWS operational systems
• Advanced storm-based warnings training
• Advanced Warning Operations Course
• AWIPS and WSR-88D improvements
• NOAA’s NWS Weather Event Simulator
• AWIPS-II and the Weather Event Simulator for AWIPS-II
• Distance Learning Operations Course
• Weather Event Simulator simulations to accompany COMET courses on Distance
Learning Aviation Course Phase 2 and Numerical Weather Prediction
• WDTB Training and Research Toolkit
• WDTB Real-Time System
• Warning Decision Training Guide
• Optimizing WSR-88D VCP selection
• WSR-88D dual polarization upgrade
• WSR-88D dual polarization outreach and training for NWS partners
• Severe storm threats and large event venues
• Integrated warning team scenarios
• Manager’s guide to improve written communication
• Comprehensive severe storm environment database at SPC
• SPC’s GOES-R proving ground
• Probabilistic cloud-to-ground lightning forecasts at SPC
• Severe Hazards Analysis and Verification Experiment (SHAVE)
• National Sea Grant climate/weather extension specialist research and outreach with CIFLOW
• Development of an integrated decision support system for quantifying water resources
• Evaluation of flash flood guidance
• Hydrometeorological research on the Fort Cobb Basin, Oklahoma
• Verification of QPF from convection-allowing configurations of the WRF model
• A partnership to develop, conduct, and evaluate real-time high-resolution ensemble and
deterministic forecasts for convective-scale hazardous weather
• Integration and testing of advanced radar quality control algorithms for Hazardous
Weather Testbed spring forecasting experiments
• An investigation on the importance of environmental variability to storm-scale radar data
assimilation
• Advancing “Warn-on-Forecast” storm-scale analyses of VORTEX2 thunderstorms
• Parameterization of cloud microphysical processes in cumulus convective clouds
• Contribution to WRF model development by CAPS
Climatic Effects of/Controls on Mesoscale Processes
The primary goal of this thematic area is to extend and apply the understanding of mesoscale
processes to the problem of climate maintenance and change. This theme also includes
investigation of the influence of the large-scale climatic environment on the mesoscale systems
that produce growing season rainfall in regions such as central North America and Sub-Saharan
Africa.
During the past year, research was conducted on:
• Sensitivity of the modeled West African monsoon to convective parameterization
• Collaboration and cooperation within the ACMAD Core Demonstration Project in Climate
Prediction between ACMAD and CIMMS
• RAINWATCH: A prototype geographic information system for daily and seasonal rainfall
monitoring and visualization in West Africa
• Multidecadal variability of eastern Australian dust and northern New Zealand sunshine:
Associations with the Pacific climate system
• Explaining the spatial variability of the mid-summer drought over the Inter-American seas
region
• Assessing and improving regional climate modeling of mid-latitude, mid-continent
cumulus convection
• Investigation of Southern Great Plains moisture budget for CLASIC: Recycling study
• Investigation of continental stratiform clouds using ARM observations and LES
simulations
Socioeconomic Impacts of Mesoscale Weather Systems and Regional Scale Climate Variations
The primary goal of this thematic area is to estimate the socioeconomic impacts and values of
mesoscale weather systems and regional-scale climate variations in central and eastern North
America and across the world, to facilitate the mitigation (enhancement) of the adverse
(beneficial) impacts. A continuing component of this work makes extensive use of climate
scenarios and economic models, and is performed in collaboration with agricultural economists
and social scientists. It is also complemented by a research thrust that is addressing a spectrum
of weather- and climate-related disaster issues.
During the past year, research was conducted on:
• Social Science Woven Into Meteorology (SSWIM)
• The Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program (SCIPP)
• Development and application of dynamic normals for investigation of climate variation
and change
• The value of tornado watches and warning false alarms
Doppler Weather Radar Research and Development
The primary goal of this thematic area is to accelerate the transfer of knowledge between the
meteorological and engineering communities (in academia, and government and private
laboratories) to improve the design, usability, and supportability of the NEXRAD WSR-88D
Doppler weather radar. Continual enhancements are needed to the system for improving the
quality, format, accuracy, resolution, and update rate of the base data, and to keep pace with
evolving hardware and software technologies. This work introduces, examines, and analyzes
present and future technologies, including phased-array technology, with the goal of meeting the
unfulfilled radar needs. This theme also includes a fertile research area for development and
improvement of radar algorithms used for forecasting and warning.
During the past year, research was conducted on:
• Real-time correlations of radar-derived QPE errors due to the bright band effect
• Improving precipitation estimates in complex terrain
• High-resolution and rapid update National 3-D Radar Mosaic
• Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP) GIS dataset support
• Display of multi-sensor datasets in virtual globes
• Polarimetric hydrometeor classification and rainfall estimation for better detecting and
forecasting high-impact weather phenomena, including flash floods
• Investigation of microphysical processes in clouds and precipitation using polarimetric
radar measurements
• Polarimetric rainfall measurements and attenuation correction at shorter radar
wavelengths
• Drop size distribution retrieval using disdrometers
• Combined profiler, polarimetric WSR-88D, and disdrometer measurements to retrieve
vertical velocities and microphysical signatures in precipitation systems
• Investigation of improved QPE using dual-polarimetric weather radar in the presence of
partial beam blockage
• Sensitivity enhancement in the dual-polarization WSR-88D
• Assimilation of phased array radar data for the analysis of the 29 May 2004 Oklahoma
City supercell
• Mitigation of range and velocity ambiguities
• Ground clutter detection and filtering
• Improvement of spectral moment and polarimetric variable estimates using range
oversampling techniques
• Software upgrades for the National Weather Radar Testbed
• Phased Array Radar Innovation Sensing Experiment (PARISE)
• Radar Control Interface improvements
• Real-Time Controller improvements
• ROC research opportunities for undergraduate students
• Radar observations of severe convective weather
• Prototyping WSR-88D science and signal processing techniques
• Verification of the Hydrometeor Classification Algorithm in winter precipitation near the
ground
• Advancements in phased array weather radar research at the University of Oklahoma
ARRC
• A quantitative estimation of phased array radar polarimetry for the MPAR project
• Next generation QPE: Toward a multi-sensor approach for integration of radar, satellite,
model, and surface observations to produce very high-resolution precipitation estimates
• Hail Size Discrimination Experiment (HaSDEx)
• Development of mobile X-band dual-polarization Doppler weather radar
• Development of C-band mobile polarimetric Doppler weather radar
• Storm-scale observations of supercells by mobile Doppler radar during VORTEX2
• Building the MPAR business case
• Dense radar feasibility study
• Wind turbine clutter research
• KTLX refractivity research
Climate Change Monitoring and Detection
The goal of this research theme is to study climate change monitoring and detection in general,
and specifically the homogeneity or lack thereof of the historical station records in the U.S. and to
use this information to help address the climate change questions.
During the past year, research was conducted on:
• The use of kernel methods in data selection and thinning for satellite data assimilation in
NWP models
• Meteorological patterns associated with variabiliy of heavy precipitation in the United
States
• Program support for the assimilation, analysis, and dissemination of Pacific rain gauge
data: PACRAIN
Public Affairs and Outreach
During the past year, public affairs and outreach activities included:
• NOAA Norman Weather Partners educational outreach
• Outreach activities performed by CIMMS staff at WDTB
• NOAA Sector Applications Research Program/Climate Program Office Climate Training Workshops
Awards
The following awards were bestowed in the past year:
• NSSL Scientists (formerly of CIMMS) Pam Heinselman and Mike Coniglio were
named as recipients of the 2008 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and
Engineers (PECASE) for their work studying improvements in tornado forecasting and
new radar systems, respectively. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the United
States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their
careers. An award ceremony is planned in Washington, D.C. in fall 2009.
• NSSL Scientist (formerly of CIMMS) Pam Heinselman and CIMMS Scientists at
NSSL Dave Priegnitz, Kevin Manross, Travis Smith, and Richard Adams were
awarded a NOAA OAR Outstanding Scientific Paper Award in the category of Weather
and Water. Their paper, published in Weather and Forecasting, is titled “Rapid sampling
of severe storms by the National Weather Radar Testbed phased array radar.”
• CIMMS Scientist with SSWIM Eve Gruntfest was awarded the Kenneth E. Spengler
Award by the American Meteorological Society
• CIMMS Scientist at NSSL Suzanne Van Cooten and others were awarded the U.S.
Department of Interior Partners in Conservation Award for Protection of Aquifer
Resources in Oklahoma
• PhD Student with SSWIM Monica Zappa was awarded the Jeanne X. Kasperson
Student Paper Award in the AAG Hazards Specialty Group at the AAG 2009 Annual
Meeting in Las Vegas, NV
• PhD Student with NSSL Heather Moser was awarded Third Place in the 2008
Oklahoma Water Symposium student poster competition in Oklahoma City, OK
• PhD Student with SSWIM Gina Eosco was awarded a Top 5 Poster Award at the 2008
Society for Risk Analysis Annual Meeting in Boston, MA
• MS Student with NSSL Craig Schwartz was awarded the Best MS Student Publication
in the OU School of Meteorology
• Undergraduate Student with NSSL Jessica Erlingis was the recipient of the American
Meteorology Society Elbert W. “Joe” Friday Scholarship for Undergraduates
• Undergraduate Student with NSSL Zachary Flamig was the recipient of
Undergraduate Fellowship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation
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- FY2009 Report (131 MB)