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Lightning Activities in SPoRT

Lightning Activities in SPoRT. presented at the SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting 12-14 June 2007 Richard J. Blakeslee , NASA/MSFC Dennis E. Buechler , UAH. Outline of Presentations. Overview of Lightning Activities Review of Some Current Activities

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Lightning Activities in SPoRT

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  1. Lightning Activities in SPoRT presented at the SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting 12-14 June 2007 Richard J. Blakeslee, NASA/MSFC Dennis E. Buechler, UAH Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  2. Outline of Presentations • Overview of Lightning Activities • Review of Some Current Activities • North Alabama and DC Lightning Mapping • NWS Lightning Assessments (D. Buechler) • Patrick Gatlin M.S. Thesis Results (D. Buechler) (note: WRF Lightning Threat Forecast will be presented in Modeling session) Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  3. Overview of Lightning Activities Relevance (Lightning Activities in SPoRT) SPoRT Mission:A NASA-NWS collaborative activity to use and transition unique NASA data and earth science research to improve the accuracy of short-term (0-24 hr) weather prediction. Lightning program supports SPoRT in two key ways • Directly(research designed for and/or funded by SPoRT) • Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) data into AWIPS • WRF Lightning Threat forecast (B. McCaul) • Graduate research (e.g.,P. Gatlin’s “Lightning Jump”) • Closely Aligned Research (not SPoRT, but similar goals) • GOES-R Risk Reduction (GOES-R3) for Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), GLM algorithm development, ARMOR, Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT), associated graduate research studies Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  4. Overview of Lightning Activities Relevance (SPoRT in Lightning Activities) Lightning Activities:Provide proxy data to develop algorithms and benchmark the use of total lightning data in the forecast office that will result in early on-orbit operational use of the GLM data stream. SPoRT supports Lightning program • Customer Interaction • Work with forecasters to understand forecast issues and develop techniques that directly address them • All have vested interest in achieving a solution (Ownership) • Provide Test-bed environment • Potential solutions refined, validated and benchmarked before transitioning the process to the operational environment • Assess the Forecast Impact • Provide training on new capability Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  5. Overview of Lightning Activities Status since last SAC Meeting (Nov 21-22, 2005) • DC Metropolitan Lightning Mapping Demonstration (i.e., DC Demo or DC LMA) • Recommended 2005 (Southern Thunder Alliance, SAC) • Funded as two year demonstration (NOAA/NESDIS GOES-R) • Deployed Summer 2006, Operations leveraged off SPoRT • Public Web (Dec 2006, model for North Alabama LMA) • North Alabama LMA • LMA Assessments (Local, Dallas FW WFOs) • 2 WES cases provided to S. Region library (many local cases avail.) • Graduate Research • 1 M.S. thesis completed (P. Gatlin on “lightning jump” and tornado genesis and severe weather) – SPoRT Funded • 2 Ph.D. dissertations (W. Deierling on lightning/Ice flux relationships and M. Gauthier on lightning/environment relationships) Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  6. Overview of Lightning Activities Status since last SAC Meeting(cont.) • GOES-R Risk Reduction (GOES-R3) Activities • Formally Initiated 2006 • Generation of proxy GLM data set underway using Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) and VHF LMA data • Graduate research addressing specific science questions/issues • GOES-R GLM Algorithm Development • Initiated May 2007 • Tasks, schedule, funding being defined • Conferences and Workshops • SPoRT lightning science presented at AGU (2005,2006), AMS (2006, 2007), SPoRT SOO Workshop (2006), LIS International Workshop (2006), JPDO (2006, Next Gen ATS) • GOES-N Test • Dec 2006, participated but no lightning occurred) Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  7. Overview of Lightning Activities Status since last SAC Meeting(cont.) • Advanced Radar for Meteorological and Operational Research (ARMOR) (on-going and future research) • Infusion of real time ARMOR polarimetric data stream directly into AWIPS to facilitate 3-D overlay of LMA and dual-pol variables (COMET) • ARMOR-LMA Huntsville Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) study of southeastern U.S. severe storms and lightning (NOAA) • Study of updraft statistics and lightning jump signature using LMA and ARMOR-88D dual-Doppler analysis; related to multi-parameter microphysical retrieval (GLM, NOAA HWT) • Analysis of lightning physics/electrical breakdown (LMA) relative to hydrometeor characteristics (ARMOR, TRMM) • ARMOR Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE) as related to LMA lightning flash activity; updraft volume and ice flux studies; data set collection for convective and lightning initiation/prediction (NOAA HWT, GLM, TRMM, PMM) Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  8. Future Plans (1-5 year time frame) • Lightning Mapping Array operations (partially SPoRT funded) • Continue assessments, support GLM GOES-R3 / Algorithm dev. • Portable LMA stations available (e.g., land-falling hurricanes, winter storms, DC3) • WRF Lightning Threat Forecasts (SPoRT funded) • Continue to refine, transition to operations • GOES-R Risk Reduction (GOES-R3) Activities • Use proxy GLM data sets to help develop algorithms and benchmark the use of total lightning data in the forecast office (support early on-orbit operational use of the GLM data stream ) • GOES-R GLM Algorithm Development(deliverable 2010) • Pursue development / testing of identified algorithms • Algorithms include Lightning Jump Signature, Lightning Warning (first CG), Cell Tracking, QPE, Clustering (events, groups, flashes, storms), Filtering (as necessary), Photgrammetric • Related Research (ARMOR, HWT, grad studies, other) Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  9. Overview of Lightning Activities Backup Slides Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  10. Overview of Lightning Activities GLM Objectives(Mission Requirements) • Provide continuous, full-disk lightning measurements for storm warning and nowcasting. • Provide early warning of tornadic activity. • Accumulate a long-term database to track decadal changes [of lightning]. Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

  11. Overview of Lightning Activities GLM Applications and Benefits • Predict the onset of tornadoes, hail, microbursts, flash floods • Track thunderstorms and warn of approaching lightning threats • Improve airline routing around thunderstorms; improving safety, saving fuel, and reducing delays; TAFs • Provide real-time hazardous weather information, improving the efficiency of emergency management • NWP/ Data Assimilation • Multi-sensor precipitation algorithms • Locate lightning strikes known to cause forest fires and reduce response times • Assess role of thunderstorms and deep convection in global climate • Provide new data source to improve air quality / chemistry forecasts Lightning Activities in SPoRT: presented at SPoRT Science Advisory Committee (SAC) Meeting Huntsville, AL 12-14 June 2007

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