1. Future Radar and Satellite Technology
Daniel C. Miller
National Weather Service Columbia, SC

2. New radar and satellite technology will improve NWS operations!
The Big Idea
New radar and satellite technology
will improve NWS operations!

3. Outline Introduction Part I. Dual-Polarization Radar Technology
The Big Idea
Part I. Dual-Polarization Radar Technology
Benefits
What is it?
Applications
When?
Part II. Next Generation Weather Satellite
Benefits and New Features
Conclusion
Summary

4. Part I. Dual-Polarization Radar Technology
Photo courtesy of NSSL 4

5. Dual-Polarization Radar Technology Key Benefits
Better Determination of Precipitation Type
Better Estimates of Rainfall Amount
Better Detection of Hail
Key points. 5

6. What does Dual-Polarization Mean?

7. What does Dual-Polarization Mean?

8. How Is Dual-Polarization Radar Technology Useful?
Key Points:
1. Conventional radar uses a horizontally polarized beam
2. Dual-polarization radar technology uses a radar beam polarized in both the vertical and horizontal directions
Notes to Presenter: This slide is the first part of a two-part explanation of dual-polarization radar technology. The first part of the explanation focuses on how the new technology is different from the old technology. The next slide gets into why the technology is important.
This slide is a good place for a story or analogy on what polarized electromagnetic waves are. In our discussions here at WDTB, the most common analogy that people will get is probably polarized sunglasses or windows. However, if you can think of a better one, please use it. And – while you are at it – send your idea to us and we may include it in the online training we produce for later in 2010.
Animations: 0
Image courtesy NSSL 8

9. How Is Dual-Polarization Radar Technology Useful?
tells us about the size,
shape, & variety of objects.
Key Points:
1. Conventional radar uses a horizontally polarized beam
2. Dual-polarization radar technology uses a radar beam polarized in both the vertical and horizontal directions
Notes to Presenter: This slide is the first part of a two-part explanation of dual-polarization radar technology. The first part of the explanation focuses on how the new technology is different from the old technology. The next slide gets into why the technology is important.
This slide is a good place for a story or analogy on what polarized electromagnetic waves are. In our discussions here at WDTB, the most common analogy that people will get is probably polarized sunglasses or windows. However, if you can think of a better one, please use it. And – while you are at it – send your idea to us and we may include it in the online training we produce for later in 2010.
Animations: 0
– = Size
(| + –) = Shape
σ(| + –) = Variety
Image courtesy NSSL 9

10. results from a tug-of-war between two forces: the surface tension of the water and the pressure of the air pushing up against the bottom of the drop as it falls. When the drop is small, surface tension wins and pulls the drop into a spherical shape. With increasing size, the fall velocity increases and the pressure on the bottom increases causing the raindrop to flatten

11. Differential Reflectivity (ZDR)
ZDR ~ 10log (Ph/Pv) (dB) Pv Pv Ph Ph
Ph >> Pv
ZDR >> 0
Ph ~ Pv
ZDR ~ 0

12. ZDR Values for Hail ~ 0 Ph ~ Pv

13. Differential Reflectivity (ZDR) Applications
Reflectivity (ZH)
Differential Reflectivity (ZDR)
Image courtesy CIMMS-OU

14. Hail !! Differential Reflectivity (ZDR) Applications Reflectivity (ZH)
Image courtesy CIMMS-OU

15. Correlation Coefficient (CC)
A statistical correlation that describes the similarities in the backscatter characteristics of the horizontally and vertically polarized echoes.
It is a good indicator of regions where there is a mixture of precipitation types, such as rain and snow.

16. Using CC to Differentiate between Rain & Snow
What precipitation is liquid,
frozen, or mixed
Frozen
Melting
Liquid
Key Point: Adding dual-polarization technology allows forecasters to better identify areas where frozen precipitation melts.
Notes to Presenter: The Reflectivity and Correlation Coefficient products allow for a nice contrast on this point. It’s pretty clear that Correlation Coefficient detects the melting layer much better than relying on a bright band being visible in Reflectivity. A personal “horror” story about detecting the rain-snow line or bright-band contamination might help here.
Animations: 2
#1: Transition from Base Reflectivity to Correlation Coefficient product w/label
#2: Add text labels for frozen, mixed phase, and liquid precipitation
2.4o Correlation Coefficient Product
2.4o Reflectivity Product
Image courtesy NSSL 16

17. Specific Differential Phase (KDP)
Measures the rate of change of horizontally and vertically-polarized phase shift with distance
Improves Precipitation Amount Estimates
Detects where most liquid water content is
Removes effect of hail contamination
consider two consecutive radar pulses that travel the same propagation path. The first pulse is horizontally polarized, the second is vertically polarized. Along the propagation path is a uniform field of falling raindrops. As discussed earlier, falling raindrops are oblate, so the electric field will encounter more water content in the horizontal direction than in the vertical. The horizontally polarized pulse will, therefore, be affected by more water than the vertically polarized pulse. Since electromagnetic waves travel more slowly through water than through air, the horizontally polarized wave will travel more slowly through the field of raindrops than will the vertically polarized pulse. This is a two way process -- the backscattered radiation, horizontally polarized, will travel more slowly back to the radar than the vertically-polarized backscatter.

18. When will Dual-Polarization Radar Technology Arrive?
4 NWS beta test sites Fall 2010
Nationwide installation
Including Columbia, SC (CAE)

19. Summary of Benefits with Dual-Polarization Radar Technology
Better Determination of Precipitation Type
Better Estimates of Rainfall Amount
Better Detection of Hail
Key points. 19

20. Part II. Next Generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R)

21. GOES-R New Capabilities
Higher Resolution Images
Data Received in More Frequent Time Intervals
A Large Suite of New Products
Key points. 21

22. Comparison of GOES-R Imager to current GOES
GOES-R Current
Spectral Coverage 16 bands 5 bands
Visible Resolution 0.5 km ~1 km
IR/WV resolution 2 km ~4-8 km
Full disk Every 15 min Every 3 hr
CONUS Every 5 min Every 15 min
Mesoscale Every 30 sec! N/A

23. Comparison of GOES-R Imager to current GOES
GOES-R Current
Spectral Coverage 16 bands 5 bands
Visible Resolution 0.5 km ~1 km
IR/WV resolution 2 km ~4-8 km
Full disk Every 15 min Every 3 hr
CONUS Every 5 min Every 15 min
Mesoscale Every 30 sec! N/A

24. Example of Visible Loop Using 1-Min Images
Courtesy Timothy J. Schmit, NOAA/NESDIS/STAR Madison, WI

25. Comparison of GOES-R Imager to current GOES
GOES-R Current
Spectral Coverage 16 bands 5 bands
Visible Resolution 0.5 km ~1 km
IR/WV resolution 2 km ~4-8 km
Full disk Every 15 min Every 3 hr
CONUS Every 5 min Every 15 min
Mesoscale Every 30 sec! N/A

29. GOES-R New Capabilities (Cont’d)
Provide Better Detection and Measurements of:
Cloud Structure
Type, Height, Phase, & Temperature
Other Atmospheric Elements:
Wind, Moisture, & Temperature
Lightning
Key points. 31

30. Some Applications of New GOES-R Data:
Improved Convective Initiation Predictions
Identification of Severe Weather Precursors
Improved Rainfall Amount Estimates
Better Estimates of Tropical Cyclone Intensity
Identify Areas of Turbulence and Icing
Improved Input to Numerical Weather Prediction Models

31. Some Applications of New GOES-R Data:
Improved Convective Initiation Predictions
Identification of Severe Weather Precursors
Improved Rainfall Amount Estimates
Better Estimates of Tropical Cyclone Intensity
Identify Areas of Turbulence and Icing
Improved Input to Numerical Weather Prediction Models

32. How will GOES-R improve warning lead times?
Rapid Cloud top cooling detection

33. Convective Initiation
Detections of Rapid Cloud Top Cooling
can precede precipitation reaching the surface by minutes
precedes first cloud-to-ground lightning strikes
Images Courtesy CIMSS-UW Madison

34. How will GOES-R improve warning lead times?
Rapid Cloud top cooling detection
Severe Thunderstorm Structures Better Detected and Monitored

35. Severe Thunderstorm Structures Better Detected and Monitored
Overshooting tops
Collapse of overshooting top can precede severe weather/tornado on ground

36. Severe Thunderstorm Structures Better Detected and Monitored
Overshooting tops
Collapse of overshooting top can precede severe weather/tornado on ground

37. Severe Thunderstorm Structures Better Detected and Monitored
Overshooting tops
Collapse of overshooting top can precede severe weather/tornado on ground
Enhanced-V Signature
Usually related to Supercell/Severe Weather

38. Severe Thunderstorm Structures Better Detected and Monitored
Overshooting tops
Collapse of overshooting top can precede severe weather/tornado on ground
Enhanced-V Signature
Usually related to Supercell/Severe Weather

39. How will GOES-R improve warning lead times?
Rapid Cloud top cooling detection
Severe Thunderstorm Structures Better Detected and Monitored
Better Rainfall Estimates
Real-Time Lightning Monitoring (GLM)

40. Geostationary Lightning Mapper
Real-Time detection of lightning across most of the Western Hemisphere
Flash Rate and Trends
IC/CC as well as CG lightning

41. When? GOES-R launch scheduled for Fall 2015
Operational, with products available, in 2016

42. Summary of GOES-R New Capabilities and Applications
Higher resolution images received in more frequent time intervals
A large suite of new products and applications
Key points. 44

43. Conclusion
New radar and satellite technology will result in improved forecast and warning operations.

44. Conclusion
New radar and satellite technology will result in improved forecast and warning operations.

45. Q&A?

46. Thank You! Daniel C. Miller National Weather Service 2909 Aviation Way
West Columbia, SC
Thank you. Feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, etc. 48