Boundary layer sensing for Mountain...
Transcript of Boundary layer sensing for Mountain...
BOUNDARY LAYER SENSING FOR MOUNTAIN WEATHERMarta Nelson: Senior Meteorologist, Radiometrics Corporation
TOPICS:• Radiometer information• History of Projects: Gunnison and Mancos• Mountain Climates and a better forecast• Future projects
RADIOMETER INFORMATION
Global RadiometersOperational functionalityHow can we fill the data gap and make a better forecast?
MP 3000A
o Passive Microwave Thermodynamic profiler
o Generates a sounding much like a radiosonde sounding once each minute.
o Zenith and Angle Scan modes build vertical profiles.
o Portable, Rugged, easy to install, operate and maintain.
COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD USE RADIOMETERS FOR BOTH RESEARCH AND OPERATIONS, CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 RADIOMETERS IN USE IN ASIA
Zenith and Elevation Angle ScansGenerate temperature and humidity profiles
°
N
Azimuth Direction
360°
Off Zenith Hyperspectral Measurement
Brightness Temperaturesfrom different frequencies
GUNNISON AND MANCOS COLORADO WINTER SEEDING OPERATIONS
2013-2014 WINTER SEASON GUNNISON COLORADO DEPLOYMENT
TRACK LIQUID WATER MOVEMENT AND TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATION DURING ALL-WEATHER CONDITIONS.
GUNNISON COLORADO
This campaign concluded that we can detect temperature, vapor and liquid in real time in multiple directions. This prompted the addition of two more elevation scan angles in following projects.
MANCOS CAMPAIGN GOALS:
o Monitor local weather patterns from the ground to 10kmo Temperatureo Liquido Vapor and RH
o Observe liquid water in the vicinity of ground based generators
o Provide information for placement of future generators
o Build small-scale climatology of the basin
MARCH-APRIL2014MANCOSCOLORADO DEPLOYMENT
ADDED A LIVE DATA FEED AND MORE OBSERVATION ANGLES THAN THE PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN
The Jackson Reservoir Radiometer site was decommissioned only a couple of weeks ago and data analysis is incomplete…
… However
CLEAR DEPICTION OF WINTER CLOUD SEEDING CONDITIONS
~-15°C
Liquid water
Good seeding conditions lasted for about an hour!
All scans looking West
LIQUID WATER OBSERVATIONS FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
West Scan
Southwest Scan
South-South west Scan
Much can be learned from mapping liquid water as moves across the valley, this information can help us determine where the water comes from, where it goes and precipitation mode.
Supercooled Liquid Water Observations: April 2
South (180)
SSW (195)
WSW (225)
6 hours
MOUNTAIN CLIMATES AND A BETTER FORECASTSite-specific configurationMobile platforms
Basin Site Configuration
90°
60°
20°
45°
30°
50°
Peak Site Configuration
0°
0°
0°
0°
0°
0°
0°
0°
90°
Conceptual Model of Mountain Valley “Mesoclimate” mapping strategy
Conceptual Model of Mountain Valley “Mesoclimate” mapping strategy
Mobile Platform: Chase the snowstorm through the Basins
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?