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
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