Insert Date 1 Spectra Sensors, Inc and WVSS II Meeting Background David Helms NOAA/NWS/OST

Insert Date 2 Outline AMDAR (MDCRS) and WVSS WVSS I Post WVSS I WVSS II Team WVSS II Planning WVSS II Phase 1 WVSS II Phase 2 and Beyond Assessment

Insert Date 3 AMDAR and WVSS AMDAR (MDCRS) –A highly leveraged, high quality, and cost effective data collection (>200:1 cost advantage to radiosonde) –Uses air carrier “enterprise” systems to sensor and collect observations, including: temp and wind sensors data processing (e.g. ACMS) air-to-ground coms (ARINC/SITA) –Part of WMO World Weather Watch (WWW) Observing Network and GEOSS –Used in Numerical Weather Prediction for over 10 years WVSS is an extension of AMDAR 24 Hour AMDAR Data over CONUS

Insert Date 4 WVSS I : FAA AWRP and NOAA OGP Funded (>$10M) Sensor developed by Goodrich Tested in 1999 on 30 UPS B-757 Thin Film Capacitor Sensor Result: –Sensors failed after 3-6 months

Insert Date 5 Post WVSS I - Regrouping : Lessons Learned: –RH uncertainty significantly increases as speed approaches high Mach # –Environmental stress rapidly degrades TFC sensitivity Avoid TFC But… need remains for trans-tropospheric RH sensor that is capable of <5% RMS for sustained operational use (2-3 years) Scene from the “Flight of the Phoenix” (1965) WVSS I WVSS II

Insert Date 6 Water Vapor Sensing System II Team

Insert Date 7 WVSS II Planning 2001: A new approach is developed: –Diode laser technology solves the Mach # problem and sensor stability SpectraSensors takes the lead as the sensor developer 2002: NWS provides WVSS II “seed” funding 2003: Real-world field tests accomplished (BAMEX)

Insert Date 8 WVSS II Phase 1 AUG 04: Operational test and deployment plans developed DEC 04: WVSS II STC is received from FAA FEB 05: Phase 1 WVSS II installations commence and data is received in quantity JUN 05: First Field Test Completed

Insert Date 9 WVSS II Phase 2 and Beyond FY06: RFP solicitation Approx $1M for first year of deployment, potentially more in FY07+ Phase 2 field test in spring 2006 –Includes sensor software and hardware “fixes” identified during phase 1 Target 1,600 sensors deployed systems on national and international routes WVSS II Intake and Diode Laser

Insert Date 10 Assessment June 2005 Field Test assessment critical for showing system viability; reports from CIMSS in Dec 05; prelim results show good data through 6 km/500 hPa/18 kft Model assessment will require 150 or more instrumented aircraft to have “economies of scale” impact from WVSS II (FY08) Radiosonde (purple) and WVSSII (black) Comparison April 26, 2005