1. RIME A possible experiment for Advancing Antarctic Weather Prediction David H. Bromwich 1, John J. Cassano 1, Thomas R. Parish 2, Keith M. Hines 1 1 - Polar Meteorology Group, Byrd Polar Research Center 2 - Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming

2. What is RIME? RIME - Ross Island Meteorology Experiment RIME is a proposed international observational and modeling program to study the atmosphere around Ross Island, Antarctica Focus on atmospheric processes at small spatial (1-100 km) and temporal (1 h - 1 day) scales.

3. Why do we need RIME? The primary goal of RIME is to improve forecasting for the US Antarctic Program aircraft operations in the Ross Island region (McMurdo Station) An additional outcome of RIME will be an improved understanding of atmospheric processes in the Antarctic and more realistic representation of these processes in numerical models (mesoscale to global scale)

4. Atmospheric Processes in the Ross Island Region Persistent stable boundary layer Mesoscale cyclogenesis north and south of Ross Island Fog/low cloud formation Flow blocking by Ross Isand, Minna Bluff, … Barrier winds and katabatic surges crossing the Ross Ice Shelf Small scale atmospheric interactions with complex topography

5. Possible Observational Platforms for RIME 1.Instrumented aircraft or helicopter (HELIPOD/METEOPOD) 2.Enhanced automatic weather station array 3.Micrometeorology towers and surface energy budget sites 4.Surface based remote sensors (AERI, RASS, SODAR, LIDAR) 5.Additional radiosonde/tethersonde observations (include standard measurements plus cloud microphysical and radiation measurements)

6. Possible Observational Platforms for RIME (cont’d) Satellite based remote sensors  AVHRR, TOVS, DMSP, GPS-Met - clouds, temperature/moisture profiles, cloud drift winds  SAR - ocean state/sea ice  SSM/I - sea ice, integrated column water Ship based observations in the ROSS Sea

7. RIME Field Campaign Location Black dots - possible location of surface remote sensors, micrometeorological towers and surface energy

8. Areas of Focused Research for RIME Mesoscale model parameterization  Turbulence parameterizations  Cloud/radation parameterizations Surface energy budget in numerical models Low cloud/fog forecasting Mesoscale cyclogenesis Barrier winds Wind shear and mountain waves

9. Mesoscale Modeling in Support of RIME Field Operations Run multiple mesoscale models in real-time mode in support of RIME  MM5 at Byrd Polar Research Center and the Air Force Weather Agency (both models are currently run operationally)  MAR  NORLAM Include non-standard observations in model initialization

10. Possible Project Time Line Preliminary work - model development and verification June 2001: submit proposals for RIME-related research March - August 2002: prepare for first RIME field campaign August 2002 - March 2003: first RIME field campaign March 2003 - August 2004: data analysis, model improvements, revise observational strategies August 2004 - March 2005: second RIME field campaign March 2005 - March2007: final data analysis