1. Radar-Based Aviation Weather Services
Mark Weber
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
8 October 2003

2. Outline Improved Measurements Improved Nowcast/Forecast Services
ASR-9 Weather Systems Processor
TDWR Processor Modernization
Improved Nowcast/Forecast Services
Medium Intensity Airport Weather System
Corridor Integrated Weather System

3. ASR-9 Weather Systems Processor
Site Status

4. TDWR Measurement Enhancements (Exploit New Radar Data Acquisition Processor)
Suppression of Range-Overlaid
Weather Echoes
Range
Overlaid
Echoes
Current Processing
Enhanced Algorithms
Atmospheric Moisture Fields using “Radar Refractivity” technique

5. Medium Intensity Airport Weather System (MIAWS)
Sites
Tower/TRACON Supervisor Display
SD Pull-Down Menus
Storm Motion
Vector
Storm Position
10 & 20 Minute
Extrapolation
Runway
Arenas

6. (looping 15min increments
Corridor Integrated Weather System CIWS Benefits – 2003 Summer Storm Season
ARTCC
TRACON
Regional Office
Command Center
FAA Facilities with CIWS Prototype
User-Identified CIWS Benefits: Projected Times/Year
Jet routes kept open/reopened earlier > 800
Proactive, efficient reroutes > 300
Identification of storm over flight opportunities > 200
Improved handling of storm impacts on > 100
ARTCC/TRACON interface
Better use of Ground Stop/Ground Delay TBD
Programs
Greater departures during SWAP TBD
Reduced MIT restrictions TBD
Improved interfacility coordination
Reduced user workload
(traffic manager/controllers)
CIWS Products Include:
0 – 2 hr Storm Forecast
(looping 15min increments
or contour overlay)
NEXRAD/ASR-9 Precip;
Storm Motion
Information
Individual CIWS Delay Reduction Event: 10 July 2003
PHL westbound routes blocked by storms
Using CIWS Echo Tops Product – 9 hr storm over flight reroute for
PHL/NYC traffic
Delay Savings ~ $ 2.1 M
Satellite Data;
Storm Growth/Decay
Trends
Echo Tops; Lightning

7. Summary
Ongoing progress in enhancing weather measurement capabilities of U.S. operational radar networks
FAA fielding systems that exploit these radar networks to provide high-benefit nowcast and forecast products