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Mission...
It is the mission of the Severe Weather Warning Appplications
and Technology Transfer (SWAT) group to develop severe weather warning applications
and transfer them to users to enhance their capability to warn of severe
weather.
Current SWAT projects:
WDSS-II (Warning Decision Support System–Integrated Information)
The Warning Decision Support System – Integrated Information (WDSS-II) is the second generation of a suite of algorithms and displays for severe weather analysis, warnings and forecasting. These concepts are tested in operational environments at NWS forecast offices, and successful algorithms are implemented into NWS systems. WDSS-II has been developed jointly by engineers and scientists at NSSL and CIMMS. The Warning Applications (SWAT) group partners with the Real-time Applications and Display Development group in NSSL’s Radar Division to develop this technology.
The WDSS-II has three main components:
- A suite of multi-sensor automated weather algorithms including techniques for combining and interrogating radar data, diagnosing hail, lightning and precipitation
- A 3D earth and time-centered display for viewing multi-sensor data and algorithm outputs
- An application programming interface (API) library in C++ that supports algorithm and display developers
WSR-88D/TDWR – Operational Product Development and Improvement
The Warning Applications group works with the National
Weather Service Radar Operations Center (NWS
ROC 
)
and the FAA to
enhance the performance of the nation's operational weather radar systems.
Polarimetric Radar Applications and Data Analysis
Members of the Warning Applications group are working with the Radar R&D Division to demonstrate the ability of the Dual-Pol WSR-88D to classify hydrometeors, improve data quality, and improve rainfall rate estimation.
Phased Array Radar (PAR)
In collaboration with NSSL's Radar R&D Division, SWAT scientists are involved in collecting and analyzing meteorological data using the Phased Array Radar (PAR). The PAR's rapid volumetric updates (on the order of 1 minute, versus approximately 5 minutes for WSR-88D) provides scientists and forecasters a better understanding of storm development, evolution and decay. SWAT scientists are focusing their efforts on:
- Data collection
- Meteorological analysis
- Application development
- Collaborations with the Radar R&D Division's Doppler Radar and Remote Sensing Research (DRARSR) and Software Engineering and Technology Improvement (SETI) teams
Hazardous Weather Testbed/Experimental Warning Program (HWT/EWP)
The Experimental Warning Program’s mission is to improve the nation’s hazardous weather warning services by bringing together forecasters, researchers, trainers, developers, and user groups to test and evaluate new techniques, applications, observing platforms, and technologies
Experimental Warning Program Home Page
ROC MOU
The ROC/NSSL Technology Transfer Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been in continuous existence since 1987, assuring continuity in improvement of radar hardware, software, and applicaitons. Current MOU activities include dual-polarization enhancement, spectral process application, phased array radar, and boundary layer radar.
MDL/NSSL Collaborations
NSSL and the NWS developed a collaborative partnership
through the addition of a Meteorological
Development Laboratory scientist
located at NSSL. The
role of this scientist is to infuse NSSL’s cutting-edge severe weather
warning applications and decision support system development into NWS warning
operations. The result will be improved NWS warning services for the
public, increased detection accuracy, longer lead-times, and fewer false
alarms for tornadoes, flash floods, and other forms of severe convective
weather.
Level II Database Archive
The Warning Applications group is in charge of maintaining a database archive for the NWS ROC that provides quick and easy access to multiple types of data. The NSSL/ROC data archive includes:
- Two-week archive of NEXRAD Level II radar data.
- OKC Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) data for precip events within 150 km of Will Rogers World Airport.
- Certain KOUN Archive Level I events.
- RUC 20 km hourly analyses.
- Surface METAR observations.
- Upper-air observations.
- Other miscellaneous data types
CASA (Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere)
The CASA project seeks to revolutionize the way we detect, monitor and predict atmospheric phenomena by creating a distributed collaborative adaptive sensor network that sample the atmosphere where and when end user needs are greatest. This system has the potential of having a profound impact on the society in terms of lives, property and the economy. The goal of CASA is to dramatically increase the warning time and forecast accuracy for tornadoes, flash floods, land-falling hurricanes, and other airborne hazards that impact millions of people across the US every day.
WDTB Training Tool Development
NSSL is working in collaboration with the NWS Warning Decision Training Branch (WDTB) to develop a tool (VCPExplorer) to help forecasters visualize the interaction of a radar beam path with the terrain surrounding the radar.
New Features of the VCPExplorer: Simulated Precipitation. The VCPExplorer is an instructional tool that aides in the visualization of radar scanning strategies, including radar beam propagation path relative to terrain, and radar algorithm dependence on volume coverage pattern (VCP). The VCPExplorer has been used in the Warning Decision Training Branch's (WDTB) Advanced Warning Operations Course (AWOC) and has been upgraded with several new features to simulate radar sampling issues of precipitation. New features include radar estimated rainfall. The user can modify several parameters including ZR relationship, VCP, and reflectivity profile and compare the radar estimated (based on VCP and terrain-based hybrid scan) rainfall to the "true" (based on radar reflectivity at the Earth's surface) rainfall. Other new features include simulated "bright-banding" and sub-cloud evaporation effects on radar reflectivity.
