1. The Cost-Effectiveness of an Adaptive Radiosonde Observing Strategy for the United States Lauryn Gonzalez, Leah Kos and Sara Lavas Mentor: Dr. Michael Douglas, NSSL

2. Dr. Michael Douglas PhD from Florida State University in 1987. (Monsoon depressions) Worked at WPL in Boulder from 1987-1992 on polar lows and oceanic winter storms NOAA Research meteorologist for the NSSL since 1992. Conducts research in mesoscale and tropical meteorology. Recent work on satellite cloud climatology and adaptive sounding systems

3. What we want to accomplish… Evaluate current radiosonde network Research and develop plans for possible adaptive variant strategies Compare current network with the adaptive variants Evaluate the usefulness of NWS special soundings Determine costs and benefits of adaptive variants and suggest best options under different budget scenarios

4. Procedure Research current radiosonde network through scholarly sources Contact key NOAA staff for information on the network’s operation, performance and financing. Research possible variants and compare to current network Evaluate special soundings by determining their additional cost and how often they are used Draw conclusions from collected information and determine the most cost effective strategy

5. Relevance to Society Impacts all parts of society as they are a unique source of the upper air climate Gives archive data Data is of better quality than from a satellite Improves long range forecasts Opportunity for a more flexible network Budget cuts

6. References Haimberger,2007: Homogenization of Radiosonde Temperature Time Series Using Innovation Statistics. Journal of Climate. 20, 1377-1403, doi: 10.1175/JCLI4050.1 Douglas, M. W., Mejia, J.F., 2009: Requirements for developing an adaptive radiosonde network for improved regional weather forecasting over southwestern North America. Extended Abstracts, Fifth Symposium on Southwest Hydrometeorology, Albuquerque, NM, USA, National Weather Service, University of New Mexico, ppt file. AMMA/NAMMA and NSSL, cited 2006: African Monsoon Activities: Who are we?. [Available online at: http://www.ametsoc.org/pubs/journals/author_reference_guide.pdf] Texas A&M Atmospheric Sciences, cited 2011: March 10 Seminar: Dr. Michael Douglas. [Available online at: http://atmo.tamu.edu/seminars/seminars-spring-2011/713-march-10- seminar] NSSL, cited 2011. Pan American Climate Studies: Who are we?. [Available online at: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/pacs/web/WHOAREWE/index.shtml] http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/projects/pacs/web/WHOAREWE/index.shtml Don Simonsen, cited 2010. Upper Air Soundings. [Available online at: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/ggw/newsletter/winter_10/UpperAir.pdf]