|
The NOAA PSR program contributes to the AASI efforts to improve satellite remote
sensing of Antarctic sea ice through high resolution, multi-frequency mapping
of sea ice. The goal of this study is to improve satellite observation of sea ice
characteristics to better understand physical processes in the Antarctic and to
gain insight into climate change as reflected in the polar regions.
A program to demonstrate that millimeter wavelength radiometers
can substantially improve water vapor observations during the
Arctic winter and contribute to improved climate observations.
GEM is a new sensor concept for continuous mapping of clouds, precipitation,
temperature, and moisture fields. ETL is currently engaged in simulations of
GEM sounding and imaging performance, development of GEM data assimilation
capabilities, and airborne simulation of GEM using an advanced hydrological
imaging platform.
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) program is being designed by
NASA and Japan's space agency, JAXA, to measure precipitation on a nearly
global basis using radars and radiometers aboard an international
constellation of orbiting satellites. A major facet of GPM is the
establishment of ground-based sites to complement and validate the
satellite measurements.
As an early aid to site planning, a pilot field project will test
measurement techniques in Colorado, where many of the types of instruments
under consideration are already congregated.
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.
The Infrasonics Network is a prototype system to study severe weather and improve
the advanced warning of severe weather events. Based on a decade of study at ETL,
IS Net was deployed for the summer of 2003 to evaluate it's capability to provide
advanced warning of severe weather.
NAME is an internationally coordinated, joint CLIVAR-GEWEX process study
aimed at determining the sources and limits of predictability of warm
season precipitation over North America, with emphasis on time scales ranging
from seasonal-to-interannual. It focuses on observing and understanding the
key components of the North American monsoon system and their variability
within the context of the evolving land surface-atmosphere-ocean annual cycle.
It seeks improved understanding of the key physical processes that must be
parameterized for improved simulation with dynamical models. NAME employs
a multi-scale (tiered) approach with focused monitoring, diagnostic and
modeling activities in the core monsoon region, on the regional-scale and
on the continental-scale. NAME is part of the CLIVAR/VAMOS program, US
CLIVAR Pan American research, and the GEWEX America Prediction Project (GAPP).
Recognizing the strong linkage between global climate change and regional
air quality, NOAA will conduct a joint study in the summer of 2004.
The study will combine the elements of the previous ITCT and NEAQS
studies and will be known as the NEAQS - ITCT 2004. This study will
focus on air quality along the Eastern Seaboard and transport of
North American emissions into the North Atlantic.
NEHRTP is a study to quantify improvements in the forecasting of temperature in the
New England region through new and augmented observations and modeling and to
assess the benefits of better predictive capabilities to the energy sector.
The principal goal of the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Pan
American Climate Studies (PACS) is to extend the scope and improve the skill
of operational seasonal-to-interdecadal climate prediction over the Americas.
Forecasts on these time scales allow decision makers time to anticipate climate
effects and develop strategies to mitigate impacts. Industries such as energy,
agriculture, resource management, tourism, and construction can benefit from
improved understanding of climate processes in this region. ETL contributes to
PACS through studies of the regional atmosphere-ocean dynamics from ship and
satellite based instruments.
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.
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.
A program to further the development of the Ground-based Remote Icing
Detection System (GRIDS)
and to investigate cloud icing conditions hazardous to aircraft.
| 
PSD/ETL Home
ESRL Home |
PSD/ETL Home |
About PSD |
Programs |
Observing Systems |
About Our Transition |
Search |
Staff
