1. Operational Wind Observations and Forecasts Andrew Stern, NOAA/NWS Local Forecast and Warnings Program Manager Silver Spring, MD Andrew.Stern@noaa.gov AMS Summer Community Meeting August 2009, Norman, Oklahoma The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the National Weather Service.

2. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 2 Outline Wind Observing Capabilities New Opportunities for Wind Observing Operational Wind Forecasts Benefits of PBL Observations Future Directions

3. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 3 Operational Wind Observing Capabilities High Frequency METAR Observations - available via MADIS (madis.noaa.gov) from select ASOS/AWOS 230 stations - 5 minute resolution - 10 meter winds

4. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 4 Operational Wind Observing Capabilities Doppler Radar Velocity Wind Profiles (VWP) – available from 88D & TDWR TMSY – VWP 0905Z 08/29/05TMSY – LR REFL – Hurricane Katrina

5. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 5 Operational Wind Observing Capabilities MDCRS (Meteorological Data Collection and Reporting System) TAMDAR (Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting)

6. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 6 Operational Wind Observing Capabilities GPS Radiosondes 1 second resolution 65/92 sites upgraded Marine Buoys & C-MAN Profiler Network Modernization RASS provides Temp 6 & 60 min Resolution National Profiler Network (35 Units)

7. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 7 Remote Sensing of Winds ASCAT – Advanced ScatterometerQuikSCAT – Quick Scatterometer Possible QuikSCAT follow-on activity: Dual-Frequency Scatterometer (DFS) system to be launched aboard the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s GCOM-W2 and GCOM-W3 missions METOP

8. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 8 New Opportunities for Wind Observations Instrumented Tall Towers Offshore wind observations & platforms (through offshore energy lease agreements) SODAR/LIDAR from research testbeds Satellite-based LIDARs New partnerships with the wind enterprise to share resources Locations of CONUS Wind Farms Source: NPR Maps

9. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 9 Quick Tour: Operational Wind Forecasts Analyses –RTMA 5km Analyses –RTMA 5km Forecasts –NDFD 5km Analyses –RTMA 5km Forecasts –NDFD 5km –RUC 13km Analyses –RTMA 5km Forecasts –NDFD 5km –RUC 13km –NAM 12km Analyses –RTMA 5km Forecasts –NDFD 5km –RUC 13km –NAM 12km –GFS 35km Analyses –RTMA 5km Forecasts –NDFD 5km –RUC 13km –NAM 12km –GFS 35km –NAM 925mb 12km Analyses –RTMA 5km Forecasts –NDFD 5km –RUC 13km –NAM 12km –GFS 35km –NAM 925mb 12km –NAM PBL Height Analyses –RTMA 5km Forecasts –NDFD 5km –RUC 13km –NAM 12km –GFS 35km –NAM 925mb 12km –NAM PBL Height Experimental –Rapid Refresh 13km Analyses –RTMA 5km Forecasts –NDFD 5km –RUC 13km –NAM 12km –GFS 35km –NAM 925mb 12km –NAM PBL Height Experimental –Rapid Refresh 13km –High Res RR 3km

10. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 10 Benefits of PBL Observations Aviation Severe Weather Surface Transportation Hydrology Air Quality Fire Weather Marine Weather Renewable Energy* Icing, Turbulence, Clouds Convective Initialization Precipitation Type, Gustiness Freezing Level (LLJ) Depth of Air Mass Transport Winds, Plume Dispersal Depth of Marine Layer, Turb Xfer Shear, Winds, Icing *Not currently a NOAA Program Programs Benefits

11. AMS Community Meeting, Norman, OK August 2009 11 Looking Toward the Future Stakeholder Interaction –Coordination on NOAA/Wx Enterprise Roles –Enterprise requirements for observations, model outputs and generalized products –Populating the WIDB/4D Data Cube –Partnering to leverage existing observations –Metadata! NOAA Activities –Participate on OFCM/CIOS and AMS Committees/APTs –Mission-oriented gap analysis/Tactical deployment for gap filling –Improve analyses & models