National Weather Association Annual Meeting Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D. Assistant Administrator NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research October 18, 2006 Atmospheric Research

2 Overview Observing Systems Modeling Information Systems Test Beds

3 Observing Systems Global Earth Observation System of Systems

4 Observing Systems Hurricanes Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer Airborne Doppler Radar WP-3D & G-IV NOAA Research developed radar that will provide unprecedented observations of the three- dimensional structure of the hurricane vortex

5 Surface Wind Analysis Observing Systems Hurricanes

6 Observing Systems Weather Phased Array Radar Polarimetric Radar

7 Observing Systems Unmanned Aircraft Systems Status: Several tests conducted in Next Steps: Continue UAS tests Continue interagency collaborative efforts Continue to develop UAS capability with Alaska officials Broad Range of Platforms Types: High, Medium or Low Altitude Sizes: Few lbs to size of 737 Ranges: 1mile to 14,000 miles Endurance: 1 hour to >30 hours Altitude: 100 ft to 65,000ft

8 Initial Global Ocean Observing System for Climate  System 56% complete.  Designed to meet climate requirements but also supports: Weather prediction Global and coastal ocean prediction Marine hazards warning Transportation Marine environment and ecosystem monitoring Naval applications Homeland security  Objectives are well defined with performance measures.  Well coordinated nationally and internationally – the ocean baseline of Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS).  IOOS Tide gauge stations  IOOS Drifting Buoys  IOOS Tropical Moored Buoys  IOOS Argo Profiling Floats  IOOS Ships of Opportunity  IOOS Ocean Reference Stations  IOOS Ocean Carbon Networks  IOOS Arctic Observing System  Dedicated Ship Support  Data & Assimilation Subsystems  Management and Product Delivery  Satellites (managed outside of IOOS)

9 Modeling WRF-based Rapid Refresh Status: Rapid Refresh uses GSI analysis and WRF forecast model Development and testing ongoing at NOAA ESRL Next Steps: Run Rapid Refresh in real-time test cycle at ESRL in 2007 Pre-implementation testing at NCEP in 2008 NCEP operational implementation in

10 New Global Model GFDL CM2.1 Innovative features - 1.State of the art model physics 2.Software for modern supercomputers 3.Widespread public dissemination of model output Lead to – 1.Outstanding ability to simulate past climate, increasing our confidence in future projections 2.Wide recognition of world class status of GFDL/NOAA models Observed global temperature Modeled global temperature

model improvements: 1.Explicit cloud microphysics 2.Improved surface fluxes 3.Assimilation of observed Loop Current structure Lead to – 1.Accelerated multi-year trend of reduced intensity error 2.Intensity predictions in 2006 that had lowest errors of all guidance Modeling Upgraded GFDL Hurricane Model

12 HWRFDENNIS Modeling Hurricane WRF Next Steps: Provide high-quality atmosphere and ocean observations for assimilation into and evaluation of HWRF Explore technologies to obtain and use new observing systems (e.g., GEOSS, IFEX) Test and evaluate new techniques to represent key physical processes Develop new techniques to evaluate/diagnose the HWRF fields Accelerate transition of promising technologies to operations (e.g., JHT)

13 GFDL model upgrades: 1.GFDL has continued to upgrade its hurricane prediction system every hurricane season. 2.Major upgrades made in both resolution and physics. Lead to – Lowest track error of any other model guidance over the past 4 years in both the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific at each forecast time level. Modeling GFDL Hurricane Model Skill

14 Information Systems AWIPS Evolution Status: Efforts underway to develop new modeling and graphics products Some testing just completed, report pending Potential Benefit: Operational flexibility

15 Testbeds USWRP Joint Hurricane Testbed Hydrometeorology Testbed Development Test Center – WRF Model High-Impact Weather Testbed Climate Testbed

16 Joint Hurricane Testbed Status: 6th year, 4th round of two-year competitive awards 15 of first 24 projects accepted for operations Result -- measurable improvement in track and intensity forecasts at landfall through improved decision support capabilities and operational hurricane modeling Next Steps: Continue funding 2-year competitive awards Increased emphasis on improved intensity forecasting Once significant improvements are documented, emphasize improved forecasting of rainfall

17 HMT WEST - Cool Season HMT EAST – All Season, including Hurricane Landfall HMT CENTRAL – Warm Season Status: Recommended by USWRP Implementing regionally HMT-prototype HMT-West Addresses Sacramento flood risk Next Steps: Provide state-of-the-art QPE to evaluate hydrologic models Winter QPF in mountains HMT-East ( ) HMT-Central ( ) Hydrometeorological Testbed

18 Current status: Established process for testing and evaluating new NWP science and technologies and retrospective testing of operational model systems Built strong working relationship between the research and operational communities Next step: Complete interagency Terms of Reference needed to establish stable resources for maintaining and supporting WRF Reference Code to the community Testbeds Developmental Test Center

19 Current Status: Operated jointly each Spring government, academic, & private sector researchers & forecasters participate Next Steps: Continue expansion of scope to include warning- scale (0-1 hour) problems by including Weather Forecast Office participation Assess operational benefits of new systems (PAR, Polarimetric radar, 3D Lightning Mapping Array, CASA Radars) Help develop and assess probabilistic warning products Hazardous Weather Testbed

20 Accelerate transition of climate research to improved NOAA climate forecast products and services Status: Consolidation of multi method Seasonal Forecasts at CPC Experimental Drought Early Warning System for NIDIS Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) for NIDIS Next Steps: FY07: budget includes 1-2 additional competitive projects; new and improved official climate forecast products Climate Testbed

21 Forecast for the Future The goal is to access and provide the right information, in the right format, at the right time, to the right people, to make the right decisions.

Questions?

23 Backup Slides

24 Importance of Research to Operations Hurricane Modeling Improvement GFDL-URI Coupled Hurricane-Ocean Model Factors the Effect of the Ocean on Hurricanes Reduction in 3-5 day hurricane track and intensity forecast errors One of the most accurate tropical cyclone forecast systems in use today Contributed to reduction of official track forecast errors by 1/3 over last 15 years Represents 16 years of hurricane model development Continually Improved

25 1-km altitude km Doppler analyses from 1st W-E leg during Katrina landfall showing asymmetry in horizontal and vertical wind distribution 9 6 Inflow and shallow wind max to West Outflow and deep wind max to East Observing Systems Hurricanes

26 Test bed concept Marty Ralph NOAA/ETL-PACJET

27 Testbeds Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation NOAA, NASA, DOD Mission Accelerate and improve the quantitative use of research and operational satellite data in weather and climate prediction models Current generation data Prepare for next-generation (NPOESS, METOP, research) instruments Supports applied research Partners - University, Government and Commercial Labs

28 Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Tide Gauges Argo Floats Tsunami Buoys Hurricane Buoys AVHRR