1. Display of Regional Spectral Model Results on an Internet Web Site Doyle Pittman Kenneth Wastrack Tennessee Valley Authority

2. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site2 of 21 The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) uses short-range forecasts of temperature and precipitation in the Tennessee Valley to help make daily decisions concerning power load management, power marketing, and river system management. Improvements in forecast accuracy can improve decision-making and could save millions of dollars each year.

3. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site3 of 21 TVA has-modified the National Weather Service (NWS) Regional Spectral Model (RSM) to achieve forecast improvements. The RSM is a limited-area (that is, regional) version of the Global Spectral Model (GSM) developed at the National Centers for Environmental Predictions (NCEP). Output from the GSM defines initial and updated boundary and interior conditions for the RSM.

4. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site4 of 21 The RSM divides the atmosphere into 28 vertical layers and has a horizontal spatial resolution of about 20 km (compared to 45 km for other NWS models). This is small enough to depict the complex topography of the eastern portion of the Tennessee Valley. TVA currently uses the RSM for a domain of about 82 o to 90 o west longitude and about 32 o to 40 o north latitude

5. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site5 of 21 TVA RSM Domain - Forecast Cities

6. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site6 of 21 TVA RSM Process Download GSM Files | Run RSM Software on UNIX computer | Create Graphics Files | Transfer Files to IntraNet web server | Use standard web browser to access information

7. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site7 of 21 Precipitation Forecast Major Forecast Areas

8. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site8 of 21 | | | | 6am 12p 6pm 12a 6am 12p 6pm 12a 6am 12p / / / / / / / / / / TOTAL 12p 6pm 12a 6am 12p 6pm 12a 6am 12p 6pm ---|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------|------- NE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.06 0.47 0.39 0.14 0.04 1.11 ET 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.17 0.24 0.04 0.03 0.49 CN 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.07 0.23 0.40 0.44 0.03 0.01 1.18 SW 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.20 0.36 0.41 0.33 0.00 0.00 1.39 NW 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.61 0.43 0.21 0.01 0.01 0.00 1.33 ---|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------|------- Precipitation Forecast Major Forecast Areas

9. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site9 of 21 Precipitation Forecasts Eastern Sub-Basins

10. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site10 of 21 Precipitation Forecasts Eastern Sub-Basins | | | | 6am 12p 6pm 12a 6am 12p 6pm 12a 6am 12p / / / / / / / / / / TOTAL 12p 6pm 12a 6am 12p 6pm 12a 6am 12p 6pm ---|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------|------- Nor 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.12 0.71 0.39 0.13 0.05 1.43 Che 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.34 0.39 0.14 0.03 0.94 Dou 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.21 0.19 0.03 0.02 0.45 Lit 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.11 0.23 0.06 0.04 0.44 Oco 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.03 0.20 0.27 0.03 0.02 0.56 Ecn 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.04 0.12 0.35 0.52 0.03 0.02 1.09 Wcn 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.09 0.45 0.56 0.07 0.03 0.02 1.24 SW 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.20 0.36 0.41 0.33 0.00 0.00 1.39 NW 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.61 0.43 0.21 0.01 0.01 0.00 1.33 ---|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------|-------

11. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site11 of 21 Temperature Forecasts Valley Cities n BNA - Nashville, TN n CHA - Chattanooga, TN n MEM - Memphis, TN n TRI - Tri-Cities, TN n TYS - Knoxville, TN n HSV - Huntsville, AL

12. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site12 of 21 Temperature Forecasts Valley Cities DATE HR BNA CHA MEM TRI TYS HSV 19990225 18 53.1 57.0 61.9 39.0 50.0 57.0 19990225 19 50.3 53.5 57.3 38.1 48.1 52.8 19990225 20 47.8 50.8 54.4 37.2 46.2 50.1 19990225 21 45.5 48.6 52.7 36.2 44.4 48.5 19990225 22 43.4 46.9 51.9 34.9 42.5 47.4 19990225 23 41.4 45.3 51.4 33.3 40.5 46.7 19990225 24 39.5 43.6 50.9 31.2 38.5 45.8 19990226 01 37.7 41.8 49.9 28.6 36.3 44.4 19990226 02 36.1 40.1 48.8 26.0 34.2 42.8 19990226 03 35.1 38.6 47.8 23.6 32.6 41.4 19990226 04 34.7 37.7 47.2 22.0 31.7 40.3 19990226 05 35.2 37.6 47.5 21.5 31.7 40.1 19990226 06 36.8 38.6 48.9 22.6 33.1 40.9 19990226 07 39.6 40.8 51.6 25.7 35.9 43.1 19990226 08 43.3 43.9 55.3 30.1 39.7 46.2 19990226 09 47.4 47.4 59.4 35.1 44.0 49.9 19990226 10 51.5 50.9 63.6 40.3 48.2 53.7 19990226 11 55.1 54.0 67.3 44.7 51.9 57.1........ 19990228 17 46.3 49.2 49.6 45.3 47.9 47.8 19990228 18 42.9 45.3 47.5 41.3 43.0 44.9

13. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site13 of 21 Graphical Displays The RSM software creates graphical depictions for 6-hour intervals in several formats. Postscript (RSM native graphics) JPEG (Web browser compatibility) Animated GIF (assembled from 12 forecast images)

14. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site14 of 21 Precipitation Forecasts 6-hour Accumulations 36 Hours42 Hours

15. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site15 of 21 Precipitation Forecasts 6-hour Accumulations 48 Hours54 Hours

16. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site16 of 21 Other Forecasts (54 Hours) PressureWind Note the low pressure trough and wind-shift along a line from southern Indiana to northern Alabama.

17. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site17 of 21 Temperature Forecasts

18. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site18 of 21 While the RSM provides short-range forecasts of sufficient detail for the TVA Region, data results on UNIX computer are not easily accessible. Using an IntraNet web server allows information to be widely distributed throughout TVA. Using JPEG and animated GIF graphics formats allows viewing with a standard web browser. Complex information is presented in a form that is easy to understand and can be readily accessed from desktop computers. Advantage of Web Display

19. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site19 of 21 Plume Particulate Model Displays TVA is also evaluating other uses of the RSM. One example is a plume particle model that uses meteorological data based on the results of the RSM

20. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site20 of 21 Plume Particulate Model Displays Hour 6Hour 11

21. Displaying RSM Output on a Web Site21 of 21 Plume Particulate Model Displays Hour 16Hour 21