Request for the use of the Doppler on Wheels (DOW) NSF Facility for Education DOW Observations of Lake-Effects

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1 Request for the use of the Doppler on Wheels (DOW) NSF Facility for Education DOW Observations of Lake-Effects Scott M. Steiger Department of Earth Sciences The State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NY October Introduction The Meteorology Program in the Department of Earth Sciences at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego would like to request the use of the Doppler on Wheels (DOW) for educational purposes during the period 21 March 8 April Snowstorms and lake breezes occur annually during this time of year in upstate New York, along with the potential for lake-crossing showers and thunderstorms. The proposed deployment will coincide with the first offering of a new laboratory course for undergraduate meteorology majors at SUNY Oswego called Remote Sensing and Mesoscale Meteorology Lab (Meteorology 416). We plan to also involve students in the Mesoscale Meteorology lecture and Synoptic Meteorology courses giving a potential direct impact to more than 30 undergraduate students. SUNY Oswego has experience with the DOW radar already as it was used during an NSF-EAGER (Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) grant during the winter of ( Dual-polarimetric Doppler on Wheels Observations of Long Lake-Axis-Parallel Lake-effect Storms over Lakes Erie and Ontario ). The objectives of this proposed deployment are to: 1) give undergraduate meteorology students exposure to state-of-the-art remote sensing equipment and have them learn how to operate the DOW, 2) have students plan scanning strategies (i.e., where to deploy, sector vs. total volume scans, how many elevation angles, selecting the PRF) for the DOW for four 1

2 meteorological situations (large-scale snowstorm, lake-effect snowstorm, albeit unlikely but possible this time of year, lake/land breezes, and the effects of the lake on surface-based convection crossing over the lake). If nothing meteorologically interesting occurs during the deployment, we plan to study the effects on radar measurements of the large wind farm in the Tug Hill region due east of Lake Ontario. Our third goal is to have the Met 416 students analyze the data in groups using the radar editing software SOLO-II and present their findings at the end of the term to the class. Students and teachers from local K-12 schools and nearby colleges, along with the remainder of the SUNY Oswego community (e.g., administrators), will either be invited to the Oswego campus for a DOW open house or we will bring the DOW to a school or two exposing them to how the DOW collects data and to show some of the data analysis. 2. Proposed use of the DOW Radar DOW missions will focus on near lakeshore locations to sample the effects of the lake on precipitating systems (both large and small scale) and on creating local circulations such as lake breezes. We have several deployment locations in mind based on the NSF-EAGER research conducted in , but some new locations may be needed, especially if we want to study the inland penetration of a lake breeze. Students and Dr. Steiger will perform radar siting for this purpose several weeks before the DOW s proposed arrival. To study the effect of the lake-land boundary on precipitating systems scan strategies will be developed to obtain high resolution data in the vertical and horizontal (RHIs and PPIs, respectively). The main issue is view obstruction by the many trees in upstate New York if scanning inland, but we do have possible sites based on our siting work for the NSF- EAGER project. 2

3 We are also interested in using the DOW s dual-polarimetric capabilities to study the several types of precipitation possible this time of the year. We have a state-of-the-art Vaisala, Inc. rawinsonde system, a surface weather station on campus that measures the standard variables plus visibility and precipitation type, and a mobile research-quality surface weather station (Climatronics) that we anticipate using during this project. In addition, we will ask for volunteers from our 100+ meteorology majors to form teams of at least two to sample precipitation type and rate on an approximate grid underneath the phenomenon of interest (of course this will depend on personal vehicle availability). Before the radars arrive on campus students in the Met 416 lab course will devise scan strategies for different sites and weather scenarios, considering how to set the PRF to deal with the Doppler dilemma, antenna rotation rate, PPI vs. RHI mode, etc. Students enrolled in our Synoptic Meteorology II lab course will work with a team of students in the Met 416 lab to forecast and call operations in consultation with Dr. Steiger. They will issue 3, 2, and 1 day forecasts posting the likelihood of operations on a classroom board and website so teams will be ready. On the day of an event Dr. Steiger will assign students to teams (e.g., DOW, rawinsonde, or surface observation teams) and go over the operations plan of the day. We will stay in contact via cell phone during operations in case adjustments will need to be made (this worked well during the NSF-EAGER project). Lastly, for the analysis phase of this proposed project, students will learn how to examine DOW data using the NCAR/SOLO-II software early in the semester (before deployment). They will then have three weeks to analyze the collected data in teams of three testing hypotheses or doing case studies and then present their findings in oral and written format the last week of 3

4 classes in early May The PI has significant experience in using SOLO to view, analyze, and edit the data. It will be helpful to have a DOW technician and driver to be present the first few days of the project to help with radar training. 3. Outreach to other schools and the public We had a very successful outreach program to the public outside the SUNY Oswego community last winter ( ) during the NSF-EAGER project and we foresee the same success with this proposed project. Dr. Steiger and some of his students will present how the DOW operates and some of their findings via an open house-type event to be held on campus around weeks 2 or 3 of the deployment. We may also travel to nearby schools with the facility manager s permission. Dr. Steiger has very good relationships with the local media and will invite them to these events as well. As a matter of fact, several people have contacted the PI the past couple of months asking if the DOW will return this winter! An analysis exercise module will be created for secondary school teachers to use in their classes to teach about radar. 4

5 Version April 2009 Facility Request Form for Educational Activities Part I: General Information Requestor Name Institution and Address Scott Steiger SUNY Oswego; 206 Hewitt Union, Department of Earth Sciences, Oswego, NY Phone and (315) (office), (315) (cell); Faculty Advisor Name (if student requestor) Institution and Address Phone and Part II: Project Description Project Title Project Location DOW Observations of Lake-Effects Eastern Lake Ontario region centered on Oswego, NY Start and End Dates of Field Deployment 21 March 8 April 2012 NSF Facilities requested (type and # of systems) Doppler On Wheels (DOW) 1 Number of Expendables requested (if applicable) Part III: Educational Activities Description Number of students involved Graduate: Undergraduate: 30 Desired training activities conducted by Facility Staff incl. time in the field Desired teaching activities conducted by Facility Staff incl. time in the field Additional special requirements that pertain to Facility support Ancillary/Opportunistic K-12 Outreach Activities 1 Show faculty and students how to operate the DOW and collect/save/backup data during one operations period. What if the DOW breaks down? Will someone be sent out to help fix it ASAP? Students and teachers from nearby elementary-secondary-university schools will be invited to campus for demonstrations of the DOW and of some of the data collected. If needed, 1 Please note that NCAR and NSF strongly encourage additional educational activities that focus on K-12 audiences to expand NSF Facilities outreach even further.

6 Version April 2009 Steiger, along with some of his students, are willing to take the DOW to other schools for this purpose. An analysis exercise module will be created for secondary school teachers to use in their classes to teach about radar. Part IV: Operational Requirements Please specify data access needs (e.g. real time) Please specify data analysis needs Please specify communications needs Real time would be nice.