1. Severe Storm Identification with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
Ralph Ferraro, NOAA/NESDIS
James Beauchamp, ESSIC/CICS/University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland USA
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

2. IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
Outline
Previous work and motivation for this study
Vivian South Dakota Case Study
Methodology
Results
Ongoing/Future work
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

3. IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
Previous work
Operational algorithms utilizing 183 GHz bands to delineate convective regions
Levizanni, Laviola, et al. – 183-WSL Algorithm
Weng, Zhao, Ferraro, et al. – MSPPS Algorithm
Studies related to deep convection and hail:
Cecil, Blankenship, et al.:
Hail climatology with TMI and AMSR-E
Cold PCT’s at 37 and 85 GHz
Hong, Heygster et al.:
Tracking deep convective cores with AMSU-B
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

4. Why use AMSU/MHS for Hail Detection?
Sensitive to scattering due to hail AND depth of convection can be detected by 183 GHz bands
Surface effects much less than at 37 and 85 GHz
Improved diurnal sampling of POES can give more complete hail climatology
Surface reports of hail incomplete
Can be insightful for future need for GEO MW sensor
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

5. Vivian, SD Hail – 23 July 2010 8” Diameter; 1.9 lbs,
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

6. N16 Overpass with Vivian, SD – AMSU-A
23 GHz
31 GHz
50.3 GHz
89 GHz
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

7. IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
AMSU-B TB’s
150 GHz
GHz
GHz
GHz
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

8. X-Section Through Main Storm Core
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

9. IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
Methodology
AMSU TB’s (N15, N16, N18, MOA) from March – September over U.S., co-located with occurrences of hail from NOAA “Storm Reports”
+ 30 minutes and 100 km
AMSU LZA + 30 deg
Retain coldest TB’s for multiple matches
Separate hail < 1” and > 1”
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

10. IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
Results
Developed simple “thresholding algorithm” based on TB means at 150 and 183 GHz from 2005 data for hail > 1”
-Note the TB mean differences between the small and large hail
-Results similar in 2006 as well
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

11. IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil
Results
Applied two channel algorithm to Mar – Sept 2008 AMSU data
Results gridded to 1.0 degree; a single report within that grid constitutes a “hail day”
This approach may or may not be the best way to do this….
Relationships between both data agree (surprisingly) well (R=0.87)
AMSU
Storm Reports
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

12. Some Further Preliminary Analysis
What are the best set of predictors?
PCA on AMSU-B
Is hail size a factor?
Nothing obvious
Next step
Examine hail vs. no-hail
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

13. Ongoing and Future Work
More robust co-located data sets
10 years of data
Objectively determine optimal matching criteria
More detailed statistical analysis
PCA’s, cluster analysis, etc.
Data denial, false alarm, etc.
Use of NEXRAD data sets
Automated hail detection algorithms
Expand to global climatologies
Compare and contrast with others
15-19 October 2012
IPWG#6 - Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil