transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

SPoRT Total Lightning ActivitiesSPoRT Total Lightning Activities

Geoffrey Stano

SPoRT / NWS Partner Workshop3 March 2010

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Relevance to the SPoRT ProgramRelevance to the SPoRT Program

• Supports the NWS mission– Protect life and property

• Total Lightning does this with:– High temporal and spatial resolution– Strong relation to storm strength

• Supports future SPoRT goals– LMA is basis for Geostationary Lightning

Mapper demonstration data– More detailed collaborative projects– Improved visualizations

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Approach: What is Total Lightning?Approach: What is Total Lightning?To

tal L

ight

ning

Acti

vity

Inter-Cloud Flashes

Cloud-to-Ground Strikes

31 Individual Storms

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

MethodologyMethodology

Warning Issued

EF-1

Sou

rce

Den

sity

Lightning Jump

• Leverage work on lightning research at NSSTC– Lightning jumps (Schultz 2009,

Gatlin 2010)– Lightning warning (Buechler)– Lightning threat (McCaul)– GLM proxy (AWG)– Dual-pol radar (Peterson)

• Apply total lightning knowledge– Correlation to storm intensity– Jumps precede severe weather– Combination = Better safety!

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Current Efforts: New NetworksCurrent Efforts: New Networks• Expanding data access

– KSC network (MLB and SMG)– Increased interaction with DCMLA– Continuing effort with White Sands

(ABQ and SMG)– Possibly others (Houston, Ft.

Worth)?

• Collaborative opportunities– Different regimes (ABQ vs MLB)– Different operational needs (SMG)– More partners for interaction (MRX)– More test sites for Geostationary

Lightning Mapper demonstrations

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Current Efforts: SCANCurrent Efforts: SCAN

• From forecaster feedback– Want to see trend of LMA data– Currently unavailable in real-time

• Mamoudou Ba at MDL– Tracks radar cells– Associates LMA to cells– Applied to Washington D.C. LMA– Implementing at Huntsville

• Potential to assist other efforts– Lightning jump algorithm– Lightning warning product

System for Convection Analysis and Nowcasting

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Current Efforts: Best Visualization?Current Efforts: Best Visualization?

• Newly started project– Several different products– Flash extent and source density– 5-min average– 1 vs 2 km and 1 vs 2 min

• Evaluating 8 product variants– 19 April 2009– Multiple hail, wind, and tornadic

events– Which is most consistent

• AWIPS II may alter this– Different display paradigm

Flash Extent

Source Density

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Current Efforts: AWIPS IICurrent Efforts: AWIPS II• SPoRT proactively preparing

for future– Demonstrating AWIPS I to

AWIPS II– SPoRT leading the community– Learning new capabilities

• AWIPS II provides new abilities– Improved data displays– More fidelity (less smoothing

of data)– Easier identification of

lightning jumps

NALMA in AWIPS II

AWIPS AWIPS II

AWIPS smoothes data

• Reduces local maxima

• Removes small values

86 sources

113 sources

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Current Efforts: AWIPS IICurrent Efforts: AWIPS II

AWIPS II: Total Lightning MosaicAWIPS II: Total Lightning Mosaic

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Current Efforts: Pseudo GLMCurrent Efforts: Pseudo GLM

• GOES-R Proving Ground• Stand-in product until release

of official AWG GLM proxy• Spin-off utility

– AWIPS II demonstration– Forecasters get a “sneak peek” of

potential GLM style data– Opportunity for forecasters to

recommend improvements– Example: Use radar to increase

GLM resolution

Pseudo GLM Flash Extent(AWIPS II)

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Current Efforts: New TrainingCurrent Efforts: New Training• Part I was nuts and bolts

– Technical information

• Part II is operational examples– Situational awareness– Total lightning main tool– Total lightning secondary– Null case– Non-tornadic– First cloud-to-ground warning

• Similar module for pseudo GLM– What is it?– How to use it– Examples

40 km FlashFirst CG

Examples

Null Case

transitioning unique NASA data and research technologies to operations

Looking ForwardLooking Forward• Alternative displays

– Google Earth style– Public or EM products

• Continue AWIPS II– Automated lightning jump– 3D display and cell tracking

• Relate to microbursts– Summer 2010

• Expand collaborations – More specific work than just

“lightning jumps”– Conference and journal goals

• Prepare for GOES-R era

AWIPS II

Google Earth

Pseudo GLM