2006 Programs

Hydrometeorological Testbed

HMT is focused on improving quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) and quantitative precipitation forecasting (QPF) in mountainous areas in order to improve hydrologic forecasts and warnings. This demonstration project uses the Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT) approach which has been proposed to address the nation's regions that are most vulnerable to fresh-water flooding. HMT will accelerate critical research and development and its transition to operations. HMT seeks to improve the use of existing NOAA observational, modeling, and human infrastructure, identifying critical gaps in NOAA's current observing and modeling capabilities, and recommending solutions to those gaps based on proof-of-concept results.

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Technology Evaluation

IOOS is a national partnership to improve the observation and understanding of the world's oceans. ETL contributes to this effort by conducting technology evaluation to determine the type of Doppler wind profiler best suited to coastal and marine applications, meeting one goal of IOOS to improve the nation's capability to measure coastal winds.

Stratus Cruise

In a series of cruises, ETL has deployed a wide range of instruments to study stratocumulus clouds and air-sea interaction in subtropical cloud belts. Stratus clouds play an important role in keeping subtropical oceans cool and in this region have a large direct effect on the winds and currents impacting weather and climate.

Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH)

SEARCH is a national effort to observe and quantify changes in the Arctic environment. With a mission to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet the Nation's economic, social and environmental needs, NOAA has a particularly important role to play in SEARCH. NOAA has initiated its contribution to SEARCH with seed activities that address high priority issues relating to the atmospheric and the cryosphere. The three primary foci of the current program are the implementation of the Arctic Atmospheric Observing Network, Arctic Sea Ice Observing Network, and Arctic Change Detection and System Analysis.

Texas AQS: Texas Air Quality Study 2005-2006

Preliminary work begins in 2005 to support the Intensive Operation Period (IOP) in 2006. The goal of the study is to provide a better understanding of the chemical, meteorological, and atmospheric transport processes that determine ozone and fine particle distributions, and to develop new scientific understanding that will assist policy makers in devising optimal management strategies for ozone and particulate matter.