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Four-dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI): OB8.2, here it comes!

Four-dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI): OB8.2, here it comes!. Gregory J. Stumpf. CIMMS / University of Oklahoma NWS Meteorological Development Laboratory Decision Assistance Branch Location : National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, OK.

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Four-dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI): OB8.2, here it comes!

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  1. Four-dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI):OB8.2, here it comes! Gregory J. Stumpf CIMMS / University of Oklahoma NWS Meteorological Development Laboratory Decision Assistance Branch Location: National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, OK

  2. Four-Dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI) • To increase warning skill and lead time, and therefore improve public service, 3D/4D visualization will allow forecasters to • better analyze the signatures which are useful in diagnosis of severe and tornadic storms. • discover new clues and signatures not easily observed using traditional 2D analysis methods.

  3. Why three (and four) dimensions? • Because the atmosphere is four-dimensional! • Storm researchers have used 3D/4D displays for years to facilitate their understanding of signatures related to severe weather. • How can operational forecasters utilize 3D/4D visualization in an effective, and rapid manner?

  4. The Lemon Technique (1977) • Original storm structure analysis methods infer vertical structure from horizontal slices at different elevation angles

  5. AWIPS 3D storm interrogation shortcomings • AWIPS users must infer vertical storm structure using 2D representations of radar data. • All Tilts or 4-panels: a series of 2D “horizontal” cross-sections • But PPIs are not horizontal – elevation angles are slanted. • AWIPS Vertical Cross-sections (OB7.1) • Not easy to use • Only complete during short period at end of volume scan • Data are remapped to Cartesian space • Not dynamic (must re-draw to get new cross-section) • Warning decision making demands quick and rapid assessment of the 3D structure of storms.

  6. Solution:Four-Dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI) • Integrate National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Warning Decision Support System – Integrated Information (WDSSII) 3D/4D display technology into AWIPS • Uses Open GL hardware acceleration on the NVIDIA 3D graphics card on the new LX workstation • FSI will be launched via a D2D extension. • Once extension is loaded, mouse click will open FSI application centered on storm of interest

  7. Requirements • Provide for quick and easy access to the data (15-30 seconds per storm) • Provide linkages between 2D representations and 3D data • Still difficult for users to overcome tendency to view in traditional 2D manner • Radar data must be “native” 8-bit resolution polar grids • Z, V, SRM, SW • 4D: Animation while slicing and dicing • Keyboard shortcuts • Processes must be stable and cause minimal impact to AWIPS system resources

  8. PPI Plan Position Indicator VDX Vertical Dynamic X-Section CAPPI Constant Altitude PPI 3D Flier Three- Dimensional Flier FSI Configuration • FSIalpha will have a linked 4-panel design:

  9. Summary of Benefits of FSI • Improved vertical cross-sections • Dynamic placement and re-position of a cross-section reference line showing real-time updates to the cross-section data. Cross-sections are no longer a one-time requested RPG product, and are instead generated on-the-fly using 8-bit data. • Constant Altitude cross-sections (CAPPIs) • 8-bit radar data plotted at constant altitude eliminates the need to sample elevation scan data for altitude or reset elevation angle choices in four-panel displays. Cross-section control is also dynamic, showing real-time updates to the cross-section data. • 3D visualization • 8-bit radar data from elevation scans, vertical cross-sections, and CAPPIs are plotted as 2D textures in 3D space. A forecaster can then zoom, pan, pitch, yaw, and fly about the data in 3D. • Virtual Volumes • No volume scan is incomplete. As new elevation scans are updated, they replace the old elevation scans in the virtual volume one-by-one. This means that there are full volumes of data available at all times for cross-sections and data perusal. • Access to a much larger data inventory • An “All-Tilts” product only allows the forecaster to peruse a sequential order of elevation scan frames. For a 64 frame limit in VCP12, that only comprises 5 volume scans. The FSI allows the user to access any elevation scan in the radar data inventory RPS list, for up 2 hours of 8-bit data for all elevation scans.

  10. FSI Operational Considerations • Training on the understanding of storm signatures in 3D representations to be developed by WDTB in concert with MDL. • Workload management/human factors • Partnering with Klein Associates, a leading decision science company, to conduct Cognitive Task Analysis. • 3D visualization is reaching WFOs via other applications • 3D experience is gaining in the field.

  11. FSI Alpha Test • FSI will be alpha tested on AWIPS OB7.2 with new LX in 2007, and OB8.1: • SR: Melbourne FL (April-) • SR: Huntsville, AL (July-) • CR: Omaha, NE (May-)

  12. FSI Alpha TestObjectives • To determine the stability of the FSI software during real-time operational warning situations. • To gain feedback from operational warning meteorologists on the utility and effectiveness of the FSI display and to suggest improvements before it is deployed into AWIPS. • To develop subject-matter expertise within WFO meteorologists that could help guide the development of the training on the concept of operations using 3D radar analysis. • Assess the operational impact of advanced radar analysis tools on NWS performance measures.

  13. FSI Operational release • FSI 1.0 operational release: AWIPS OB8.2 (prior to Spring 2008) • Resources did not permit all features to be included in FSI1.0: • No Data sampling • Super-resolution data not supported • TDWR data not supported • Storm-motion for SRM must be changed via D2D and FSI relaunch • No colormap editor • FSI 2.0 (tentative – OB8.3): • Super-resolution data; Polarimetric variables • Data Sampling (multi-parameter) • Improved texture drawing (faster, less memory) • Other suggestions from alpha test

  14. FSI Operational release • Beyond: • 3D volume rendering and isosurfaces • Data advection (to remove drift) • Display of single radars from multiple locations concurrently • 3D grids of mosaicked multiple-radar data • Integration with near-storm environment data from numerical models • Add Temperature contours to vertical cross sections • Constant Temperature PPIs (CTPPIs). • Next-generation AWIPS (AWIPS2): • Common AWIPS Visualization Environment (CAVE) should require fully-integrated support for 3D visualization.

  15. Questions? Greg.Stumpf@noaa.gov Cell phone: 405-826-8644 Tom.Filiaggi@noaa.gov NWS Meteorological Development Laboratory Decision Assistance Branch http://www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/dab/decisionassistbr.htm http://www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/dab/FSI_index.htm

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